Advice Hub

Talent Over Skill Sets

Video

Patrick McCubbin on LinkedIn:

I stand by this…Companies achieve greater hiring results when they prioritise fit, ability and talent over mere skill sets.

Bright individuals can develop, however the wrong personality is inherently harder to change. (The person you are now thinking about) Rather than automatically rejecting talent with some technical gaps, try to assess their ability to bridge those gaps quickly.I see this a lot…

“We NEED someone with….” you fill in the gaps… usually it’s a type of sector, system or accounting standard. Honestly, if someone is a rockstar they upskill quickly.

The 70/30 rule resonates well: 70% ready with 30% room for growth – the 30% is actually the more important element for everyone.

At We Do Group we love adding in one curveball candidate to most recruitment processes. This helps challenge fixed mindsets and usually adds further diversity. It’s interesting how many times the ‘curve ball candidate’ ends up getting the position!

More from our Advice Hub

Insights

The Truth from a Month of Working Abroad by George Richings

3 min read
Published 1 year ago

Last month, I had the pleasure of spending a month working abroad. It was an eye-opening experience that offered a mix of challenges and rewards. Here’s what I learned from my time away:
1. The...

Read More
Insights

Not Every Great Hire Starts With a CV — And That’s Exactly the Point

3 min read
Published 4 months ago
Business meeting

We get it – hiring can feel like a search for perfection.
The right skills.The right experience.The right CV.
But here’s the thing: some of the best hires we’ve ever seen didn’t start...

Read More
Insights

How to Recruit Finance Professionals Who Actually Add Value (Not Just Fill a Vacancy)

5 min read
Published 9 months ago
Employee discussion

Because a Warm Body in a Chair Isn’t Enough
You’ve got a finance role to fill.
 

The job spec is written.
Recruiters are sending over CVs.
Interviews are booked.

 
But here’s the...

Read More
Insights

Why Your Job Offer Got Rejected (And What to Do About It)

6 min read
Published 9 months ago

You Thought You Had Them… But Then They Said No.
You found the perfect candidate. The interviews went well, they seemed excited, and you were already picturing them in the team.
Then… boom....

Read More
Insights

Ask These Questions to Hire the Right Finance Candidate

5 min read
Published 1 month ago
Interview

Hiring someone who’s ‘good with numbers’ isn’t enough.
What really matters is whether they understand the story behind the numbers — and can use that insight to guide smarter...

Read More
Insights

The Political Race is Recruitment 101

4 min read
Published 1 year ago

A successful recruitment process is always defined by the quality of the shortlist – that’s a fact. Drawing parallels between political races and recruitment strategies offers insightful...

Read More