11 Key Traits and Questions To Enable Your Business To Hire Top Performers

December 10, 2024

H-I-R-E-S Process: Interrogation Process

Our team have successfully worked for a number of the UK’s leading Microsoft Consultancies internally in Perm or Interim Recruitment Manager and Leader. Helping to scale business such as Hitachi Consulting ( formerly Information Management Group) ex-Microsoft World BI Partner Of The Year Coeo , Simpson Associates and Hitachi Vantara /Consulting.

Focused Futures Consultancy LTD was founded three years ago, we provide an IT Recruitment and Life Coaching service enabling HR Directors and CxO to plan, hire and guide employees to success. Focused Futures was selected as a finalist in the West London Business Awards SME Professional Services category 2024.

Our H-I-R-E-S recruitment process has been developed over 20 years of working within the demanding Consulting and IT Technology domain. We are keen to share some information on a selection of the key traits that that top performers typically demonstrate.

I = Interrogation is part of our H-I-R-E-S process, our Interrogation (interview) process helps us to identify high performers effectively. Our recommendation is to develop further questions that dig deeper into these areas, allowing your Talent Acquisition or HR teams to enable candidates to demonstrate their behaviors and competencies through their experiences and approaches.

1. Gratification

Trait: Focus on long-term fulfillment over immediate happiness.
Why it Matters: Candidates with this trait prioritise growth and long-term success, leading to sustainable outcomes.
Example Question: Can you describe a time when you chose to delay gratification to achieve a long-term goal?

2. Adaptability

Trait: Ability to tackle disruption and adapt to changing needs.
Why it Matters: Essential for thriving in the fast-paced, ever-changing technology landscape.
Example Question: How have you adapted to significant changes in your work environment or industry?

3. Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Trait: Daily self-assessment and incremental improvements.
Why it Matters: Consistent small improvements can lead to substantial growth over time.
Example Question: What practices do you have in place to ensure you are constantly improving your skills?

4. Lifelong Learning

Trait: Regular engagement with books, articles, and podcasts relevant to their field.
Why it Matters: Continuous learning helps professionals stay updated and innovate.
Example Question: What was the last book you read or podcast you listened to related to your field?

5. Effective Time Management

Trait: Prioritizing and managing tasks strategically.
Why it Matters: Efficient time management maximizes productivity and ensures critical tasks are completed.
Example Question: How do you prioritise your tasks at the beginning of each day?

6. Strong Networking Skills

Trait: Building and maintaining beneficial relationships.
Why it Matters: A strong network provides support, motivation, and opportunities.
Example Question: Can you give an example of how your network has helped you achieve a professional goal?

7. Effective Communication

Why it Matters: Clear communication ensures alignment and understanding within teams and with clients.

Trait: Ability to communicate across different levels and personalities.

Example Question: How do you adjust your communication style when dealing with different stakeholders?

8. Proactive Procrastination Management

Trait: Recognizing and managing both productive and unproductive procrastination.
Why it Matters: Managing procrastination effectively leads to timely and well-thought-out actions.
Example Question: How do you deal with procrastination, and can you provide an example?

9. Grit and Resilience

Trait: Sustained effort and perseverance towards long-term goals.
Why it Matters: Grit enables professionals to overcome obstacles and maintain performance over time.
Example Question: Describe a situation where you demonstrated grit to achieve a challenging goal.

10. Learning from Failure

Trait: Evaluating failures for lessons and opportunities.
Why it Matters: The ability to learn from failures fosters growth and innovation.
Example Question: Can you share an experience where you failed and what you learned from it?

11. Proactivity

Trait: Taking the relevant action and making appropriate decisions early without being asked.
Why it Matters: The ability to make the right decisions or take actions early to avoid delays or impact.
Example Question: Describe a situation when you needed to act proactively on a project?

H-I-R-E-S Process

H.I.R.E.S (Headhunting and Search, Interrogation (behavioral interviewing for clients), Roundtable (advising on internal interview process), Extend (offer management) and Support (after placement coaching and The First 100 Days module).

Our framework has been used by award winning companies such as Coeo, Adaptivity and Simpson Associates a combination of Microsoft Microsoft Fabric Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program partners. Our hires have made rapid progress with employees successfully delivering impact in their roles and gaining promotions quickly.

Feel free to reach to us for a PDF with a comprehensive set of questions. Alternatively a discussion on behavioral design, interview questions, or any other aspects of the recruitment process. Our expertise and experiences provide a solid foundation for creating a robust and effective recruitment strategy if you are a Consultancy, SME or Software House or IT centric business.