Category: Career Experience

Beyond Resumes: Unveiling the Secrets to Successful Candidate Selection

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Having navigated the corporate landscape for over three decades, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing and hiring over a hundred individuals across various roles and organizations. Over time, I’ve honed my approach to ensure that I select candidates who possess the necessary skills, align with the organizational culture, and exhibit a commitment to long-term success.

Art of Selecting The Right Fit

As I continue to mentor leaders, a standard query is how to discern whether a candidate is the right fit and likely to remain dedicated to the role. Drawing from my extensive experience, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of non-negotiable traits and behaviors that serve as red flags during the hiring process, significantly reducing attrition rates within my teams.

List of Non-Negotiable Traits

Let’s delve into each of these points to gain a deeper understanding:

  1. Confidence and Engagement: The ability of an interviewee to maintain eye contact and articulate responses reflects their confidence level. It’s essential to gauge whether they exhibit active engagement during the interview, as it often correlates with their potential to thrive in the role.
  2. Professional Integrity: Negative comments about current or past employers reflect poorly on a candidate’s professionalism and integrity. Such behaviour raises concerns about their ability to maintain confidentiality and handle workplace conflicts constructively.
  3. Punctuality and Professionalism: Respect for time is a fundamental aspect of professionalism. While unforeseen circumstances such as traffic jams may occur, candidates should proactively communicate any delays. Punctuality, coupled with accountability, underscores a candidate’s reliability and commitment.
  4. Interest in Work-Life Balance: Inquiring about the company’s policies regarding work-life balance, vacation entitlements, and breaks provides insight into a candidate’s priorities and expectations. Their response can indicate whether they align with the organization’s values and priorities.
  5. Passion for Learning and Growth: A genuine enthusiasm for learning and a willingness to receive feedback indicate a candidate’s adaptability and potential for growth within the role. Passion drives performance, and candidates who demonstrate curiosity and eagerness to expand their skills are valuable assets to any team.
  6. Demonstration of Humility: Arrogance and impatience are detrimental traits that can disrupt team dynamics and hinder collaboration. Observing how candidates interact with receptionists or front desk personnel can reveal valuable insights into their demeanour and interpersonal skills.
  7. Authenticity and Transparency: Discrepancies between a candidate’s resume and their verbal accounts raise red flags regarding authenticity. Instances of stolen identity or misrepresentation erode trust and credibility, highlighting the importance of thorough background verification.
  8. Preparation and Interest in the Company: Candidates who lack familiarity with the company or fail to ask insightful questions during the interview may need more genuine interest or initiative. Preparation signifies diligence and a proactive approach to understanding the organization’s goals and values.
  9. Humility and Intellectual Curiosity: Humility is a hallmark of strong leadership and teamwork. Candidates who acknowledge their limitations and are willing to learn from others contribute to a positive work culture and foster collaboration.
  10. Adaptability and Resilience: In today’s dynamic business environment, adaptability is crucial for navigating challenges and driving innovation. Assessing a candidate’s ability to thrive amidst change and adversity provides valuable insights into their resilience and potential long-term success within the organization.

Wrapping up

In summary, identifying the right fit goes beyond evaluating technical skills; it entails assessing a candidate’s character, values, and attitude toward professional growth and collaboration.

Organizations can create a high-performing and unified workforce equipped for long-term success by incorporating these essential traits into the hiring process.

From Scars To Success-Why Trying New Opportunities Is Worth The Risk

man wearing grey shirt standing on elevated surface
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“The emotional scars of our mistakes will teach is far more than the joy of our successes,”- Steven Aitchison

Do you look at past mistakes as terrible events or as growth experiences?

The scars of previous mistakes can prevent us from taking new risks. When we make mistakes, we experience feelings of shame, guilt, and self-doubt. This impacts our confidence and willingness to take on new challenges.

The fear prevents us from taking new risks and trying new things, which can limit our personal growth and prevents us from reaching our full potential.

The story of my coaching client

If you consider past failure a terrible mistake, you must read the story about my coaching client Rahul- a team leader in a big software company.

Rahul was in the same job for over six years and was perfect at it. The company decided to promote him to Team Manager.

Rahul was still determining how he would handle the new role. He accepted the position because the salary increment was too attractive to turn down.

In his new role, Rahul struggled and lost his self-confidence after some time. He was asked to step down. Rahul was devastated.

He agreed to return to his old job as a Team Lead.

Three years later, the company once again promoted him. But the scars of the previous failure were still too raw, and he refused to accept the promotion.

During a coaching call, I convinced him he was a different person from three years ago. Since his last attempt, he has further developed his leadership skills.

He accepted the promotion and became a successful team manager.
The turning point was losing the role the first time, which made Rahul hungrier for success.

The story’s moral is to approach new challenges with a growth mindset, viewing mistakes as opportunities for learning and improvement rather than sources of shame and failure.

Are you clouding any growth experiences as mistakes?

Then it would be best to let go of the mistake and grab the opportunity as Rahul did.

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the ones you did.”
– Mark Twain

Empowering Women: Breaking Stereotypes and Building a Path to Success

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“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”
Michelle Obama

I wholeheartedly echo Michelle Obama’s sentiments. I have consistently believed that women must have unwavering self-belief to attain success in any endeavor they choose to pursue.

Education alone does not guarantee a path to success

Recently, during a speed mentoring session with a group of dynamic young ladies, I encountered a disheartening situation. One accomplished woman, having excelled in her studies, completed her engineering degree and secured a position in a prestigious IT company, was suddenly pressured by her family to quit her job and get married.

Unfortunately, such scenarios are not uncommon in India, where societal expectations often dictate a woman’s life choices, especially regarding marriage.


At a school reunion last month, another instance caught my attention. A friend shared that his daughter, a qualified Chartered Accountant, struggled to find a suitable job. Eager to assist, I discovered that the challenge went beyond the job search—she lacked the motivation to pursue employment actively.


These examples highlight a crucial aspect: education alone is not sufficient.

True success requires an inner drive and a purpose. Familial pressures and unsupportive environments often dissuade young women from pursuing their careers. However, a strong desire and ambition enable individuals to filter out the noise and focus on achieving their goals.

Seeking help is not weakness

Young women must seek help without considering it a sign of weakness. As aspiring individuals, building a support system is crucial, and this involves reaching out to parents, in-laws, husbands, brothers, friends, or anyone capable of assisting. Demonstrating your ability to manage responsibilities at home and work can inspire others to support your ambitions.


In today’s world, giving up everything is no longer the only option for women. Technology has brought knowledge to our doorsteps. Embrace it, explore the world, expand your knowledge, and aspire to achieve meaningful goals. While priorities in life may shift, women possess the resilience to adjust their goals accordingly.

Breaking Stereotypes

Establishing robust support systems aids in navigating changing priorities. Although career breaks are inevitable, they need not be permanent setbacks. With numerous online courses available, women can utilize reskilling and personal development opportunities.


Acknowledging that some biases are generational, it’s essential to challenge and change these perspectives over time. Empowering women to believe in themselves, ask for support, and pursue their ambitions is not just an individual endeavour but a collective effort towards breaking stereotypes and fostering a more inclusive society.

“We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.”
Sheryl Sandberg