11 Traits of Superstar Hires (and How to Spot Them)
Here’s how my dear friend Warren Buffet hires:
While I’m not Warren Buffet, I have learned from him and I have hired 100s of people over the years as AutoGrow has grown into a multimillion-dollar company. Some hires turned out to be superstars, others not.
So the problem becomes finding those diamond(s) in the rough. And today, finding and hiring a superstar can be tougher than ever. Competition for jobs is fierce.
So this got me thinking…
If you knew all the traits you want in a superstar and how to find them, the hiring process would be a checklist. Does that person have most or all the traits you’re looking for (that are on this list)? Then hire them. Simple.
So we made the checklist for you.
And as a bonus, we'll get into why you should look for these good qualities of an employee. Plus, the interview questions to ask to see if they own them.
And here a few (click on one to jump down to one and see how to spot it):
- Superstar Hiring Trait #2: Drive will get you a superstar that care about more than just money.
- Superstar Hiring Trait #4: A strong work ethic is getting rarer… here’s how to spot it.
- Superstar Hiring Trait #7: A positive attitude when times get tough (cuz they will) goes a long way.
- Superstar Hiring Trait #10: Flexibility and adaptability might be the most important traits to look for.
All the rest are down below.
Ready to learn the 11 traits of a superstar employee? Let’s get into them.
Superstar Hiring Trait #1: Conscientiousness
Conscientiousness means having the desire and commitment to do a job to the best of your ability.
Why You Should Look for This Trait When Hiring
Conscientiousness and success are almost interchangeable. If you had to pick one of the traits on this list to be most aware of in the hiring process, it’s conscientiousness. In fact, it is one of the top predictors of high intelligence and long-term success. Both of which are superstar employee traits.
Conscientious individuals also tend to exhibit better health outcomes. It’s also associated with academic success, higher income levels, and greater job satisfaction.
Questions To Ask To See If They’re a Superstar
- (Favorite Question) Tell me about a difficult problem in your past professional experience, and how you went about solving it? (Someone who really had to wrestle with the problem, get their hands dirty, and learn how to solve – they will be able to tell you about it in detail)
- How do you ensure you meet deadlines and complete tasks accurately and efficiently?
- Can you describe a time when attention to detail was crucial in your work? How did you approach it?
- How do you prioritize your workload and manage many responsibilities effectively?
- Tell us about a situation where you encountered a mistake or error. How did you handle it, and what did you learn from it?
- Can you share an example of a time when you went above and beyond to deliver exceptional quality or service?
Superstar Hiring Trait #2: Drive
Drive refers to a relentless pursuit of success and determination to overcome obstacles. Superstars possess an inner hunger and motivation (maybe a well-intentioned chip on their shoulder?) to achieve remarkable outcomes.
Why You Should Look for This Trait When Hiring
Drive is what sets superstars apart from the rest.
Those with a strong drive are likelier to take on challenges, try new approaches, and remain curious about new possibilities. They bring energy and passion to their work. They also emotionally invest themselves for superior results.
Research shows that drive is the second-highest sought-after personality trait when hiring. Studies show that motivating employees based only on rewards, such as bonuses or salaries, doesn't work. A motivated employee finds other ways to perform at a high level.
Questions To Ask To See If They’re a Superstar
- What drives you to excel in your work, and how do you stay motivated during difficult times?
- How do you show enthusiasm for your field, and what are your long-term career aspirations?
- How do you actively seek opportunities to learn and grow professionally?
- What's a time when you faced setbacks or obstacles? How did you overcome them with determination?
- Can you provide an example of a challenging goal you set for yourself and how you achieved it?
Superstar Hiring Trait #3: Shared Values
Having shared values means the candidate’s personal values match your organization's. At AutoGrow, we have three core values that our employees should share if they want to find success with us:
- Continuous Self-Improvement
- Creativity
- Enjoyment
Why You Should Look for This Trait When Hiring
When people and companies have shared values, everyone wins. When everyone works well together, then together, you all achieve more.
If someone’s values don’t match with the company’s, it will only create problems. You’ll rub each other the wrong way and then start looking for ways to off-board that hire.
Questions To Ask To See If They’re a Superstar
- How do your personal values align with the values of our organization?
- Can you provide an example of a situation where you had to make an ethical decision at work?
- Do you think collaboration and a positive team environment create an enjoyable workspace?
- How do you embrace diversity and ensure inclusivity in your interactions with colleagues?
- How do you incorporate social and environmental responsibility into your professional practices?
Superstar Hiring Trait #4: Strong Work Ethic
A strong work ethic means being willing to work hard and make sacrifices.
Superstars understand the importance of this quality. And unfortunately, this is a quality that is not that common these days.
Why You Should Look for This Trait When Hiring
Superstars know that dedication and hard work pay off.
They take responsibility for their actions. They always ask themselves:
“What more can I/we do to achieve our goals?”
Their motivation comes from within; they don’t rely on others to push them.
Superstars pay attention to small details. They know that even little mistakes can have big consequences. They also don’t give up easily when faced with difficult problems. They keep trying until they find a solution.
Both employers (92%) and employees (79%) agree that a strong work ethic is essential for success. Unfortunately, only 42.5% of employees demonstrate these behaviors…
Questions To Ask To See If They’re a Superstar
- How do you prioritize and manage your workload to ensure timely completion of tasks?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you went the extra mile to deliver exceptional results?
- How do you handle tight deadlines and high-pressure situations to ensure quality work?
- How do you seek opportunities to improve your skills and knowledge in the workplace?
- How do you ensure that your work consistently meets or exceeds expectations?
Superstar Hiring Trait #5: Leadership
A natural leader is often a guide or a helper to others.
They’re the person in a group who helps everyone work together, makes decisions, and shows the way. They’re good at listening to others, being fair, and helping everyone do their best.
Why You Should Look for This Trait When Hiring
Leadership is a trait that superstars own, and not everyone is capable of. Candidates can show it in many places. Examples include communities, organizations, and workplaces. Look for leadership positions on resumes.
Thank your lucky stars if you can sniff out a leader in your hiring process. Superstars are effective communicators, a big help in making things run smoothly. They can also express their thoughts clearly and ask for clarification when needed.
They are a rare breed, though.
Data shows that only 10% of people have natural leadership qualities. And many companies struggle to select the right candidates for leadership positions. This results in a failure rate of up to 82%. Plus, nearly 80% of companies report a gap in leadership development.
Every organization needs (and is sorely lacking in) finding someone with leadership qualities.
Questions To Ask To See If They’re a Superstar
- Can you share an experience where you led a team toward a common goal?
- How do you approach making important decisions that impact a team or project?
- Describe a situation where you resolved conflicts within a team.
- Have you ever mentored or coached people to help them achieve their full potential?
- How do you inspire and motivate others to contribute their best efforts toward a shared goal?
Superstar Hiring Trait #6: Honesty and Integrity
Integrity is knowing the difference between right and wrong, between saying what is true in a respectful way and not lying.
It's also about consistently choosing to do what is right. It allows your business to build trust within your business and with other companies. In the workplace, trust is essential in teamwork, and honesty is the key to establishing trust.
Why You Should Look for This Trait When Hiring
Honesty and integrity are preferred qualities of a high-performing employee. Superstars value it. They almost thrive on it. These traits build strong relationships and trust within a team. Honest people take responsibility for their work, try to improve, and ask for help.
Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway knows the importance of integrity in hiring. He said:
Questions To Ask To See If They’re a Superstar
- How have you handled a situation where you faced a difficult ethical decision at work?
- Have you ever admitted a mistake you made at work? Could you share how you handled it?
- How do you ensure that your actions align with your values and build trust with colleagues?
- How do you handle private information and keep it safe while working?
- Describe a situation where you made a decision based on your personal values. Did you stick with it, even if it was challenging or unpopular?
You could also give them a hypothetical. For example, what we went through at AutoGrow.
Ask them what they would do if they discovered they had access to information they shouldn’t have. One of our team members recently demonstrated integrity by being honest. They could have used the wrongly accessible information for personal gain. But instead, they brought it to my attention. Superstar in the making.
Superstar Hiring Trait #7: Positive Attitude
Most superstars have a positive attitude. And it is definitely one of the good qualities of an employee. They see the best in situations and people. They view obstacles as opportunities to overcome rather than sources of fear.
Why You Should Look for This Trait When Hiring
A positive attitude is crucial for success. Superstars assume positive intent in others, believing that everyone is doing their best. They also listen well, gaining deeper insight and understanding. They appreciate positive behavior that strengthens relationships and boosts morale, and they aren’t afraid to show praise to others.
Data shows that attitudes drive 89% of hiring failures. Surprisingly, technical skills account for only 11% of failures. This emphasizes the importance of hiring individuals with a positive attitude.
Questions To Ask To See If They’re a Superstar
- Give us an example of a tough workplace situation where you kept a positive attitude. How did it impact the outcome?
- How do you approach working with different team members to get the best out of them?
- Describe a time when you faced unexpected setbacks or obstacles. How did you maintain a positive mindset and overcome them?
- What strategies do you use to stay motivated and enthusiastic? How do you stay motivated even during demanding or repetitive tasks?
- Tell us a situation where you turned a negative experience into a positive one for yourself or your team.
Superstar Hiring Trait #8: Assertiveness and Confidence
Assertiveness and confidence mean someone is self-assured and able to express themselves effectively without being pushy or aggressive. They believe in their abilities and communicate with conviction. It also means they communicate from a place of experience, competence, and self-esteem, as opposed to superficial or ego-driven confidence.
Why You Should Look for This Trait When Hiring
Candidates who can assert themself while respecting others means they’ll help establish effective communication and collaboration in the workplace. Plus, a confident employee is usually a happy employee, and happy people are usually superstars.
Confident individuals are more likely to speak up. They also express their opinions and contribute to problem-solving. They also create a culture that fosters open disagreements and encourages innovative thinking. Assertive and confident employees contribute to a positive work environment and outcomes.
Questions To Ask To See If They’re a Superstar
- Can you describe a situation where you took the initiative and led a successful project or team?
- Provide an example of a time when you demonstrated assertiveness while maintaining professionalism
- Tell us about a time when you had to make a tough decision with limited information. How did your confidence in your judgment guide you?
- When have you stepped out of your comfort zone to achieve a significant outcome?
- Provide an example of when you communicated your ideas and got others to follow you.
Superstar Hiring Trait #9: Team Player
A team player is someone who knows the importance of working with others toward a common goal. They listen to their teammates’ ideas. More than that, they offer support and strive to understand different perspectives.
Why You Should Look for This Trait When Hiring
Being a team player is crucial for success in any organization that is bigger than one person. Superstars who excel in teamwork contribute to a positive and productive work environment. They value the input of others, show respect, and want to support their teammates.
One study says teams with only employees looking to stand out may actually perform at a lower level. Focusing on individual success leads to less coordination and hinders team performance. Team players who focus on collaboration and mutual support are essential for success.
Team players show empathy and understanding, which fosters strong relationships among team members. They have more willingness to listen, offer help, and consider different perspectives. This enhances team dynamics and leads to innovative solutions. These are the type of superstar employees you want on your team.
Questions To Ask To See If They’re a Superstar
- Provide an example of collaborating with a diverse group to achieve a common goal.
- How do you handle conflicts within a team? Share an experience of resolving a team conflict.
- Tell us about supporting a struggling teammate. How did you assist them and contribute to their success?
- Describe a time when you went beyond your role to help a colleague or contribute to the team's success. What motivated you?
- Have you sought feedback from your team to improve your and the team's effectiveness?
Superstar Hiring Trait #10: Flexibility and Adaptability
This means working effectively in different situations with different people. It's also about adjusting and overcoming unfamiliar or changing obstacles.
Why You Should Look for This Trait When Hiring
Barclays Lifeskills says adaptability has become 60% more important to employers this decade. But it’s also one of the most overlooked skills when hiring. It’s a skill that companies want but are struggling to find.
Check out these stats on the adaptability hiring gap:
- A PWC study found that 63% of CEOs cannot find talent that can adapt to the requirements of the business.
- 44% of employees do not recognize adaptability as a skill they own.
- Only 15% have adaptability on their resume. But many employers consider adaptability a critical skill.
- Yet even then, only 8% of employers actually offer training in this skill. There’s a clear disconnect between what employers seek and what they want to develop in-house.
Find the rare employee that lists adaptability and flexibility on their resume. You might have a superstar on your hands.
Questions To Ask To See If They’re a Superstar
- Have you quickly adjusted plans or approaches due to unexpected changes or challenges?
- How do you handle working in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment? Share an experience.
- Tell us about adapting your approach to work with colleagues with different styles.
- Describe a project that required learning new skills. How did you adapt to complete it?
- Share an experience of managing many priorities or projects with conflicting deadlines. How did you rank them and adapt?
Superstar Hiring Trait #11: Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence goes beyond academic intelligence and involves deeply understanding oneself and others. It is about being aware of emotions and using that awareness to navigate social interactions effectively.
Why You Should Look for This Trait When Hiring
Emotional intelligence is one of the good qualities of an employee. It's needed for effective leadership and teamwork. It involves constant internal and external balancing. People must consider the emotions and relationships of everyone at work. Hiring candidates with strong emotional intelligence will create a more positive work environment. And that means more success for everyone.
This is a skill your management team must have. Research shows that emotional intelligence is crucial for successful recruitment and retention. Workers are 400% less likely to leave a job if they have a manager with a high EQ. (EQ stands for emotional intelligence quotient. It's your ability to positively understand, use, and manage your emotions.)
Questions To Ask To See If They’re a Superstar
- How do you handle conflicts with colleagues? Can you share an example?
- Describe a time when you adjusted your communication style to work with someone different.
- How do you respond to feedback or criticism? Can you give an example?
- Share an experience where you showed empathy towards a coworker or client in a tough situation.
- How do you manage stress at work? Can you provide an example of a high-pressure situation you handled well?
Conclusion
There it is, folks: my votes for the top superstar hire traits to look for in future employees. Try to find someone displaying these characteristics during the interview and recruitment process. If you do, consider yourself lucky because you may have found a superstar.
Let’s give you a quick refresher on what you should be looking for:
- Super-star Hiring Trait #1: Conscientiousness
- Super-star Hiring Trait #2: Drive
- Super-star Hiring Trait #3: Shared Values
- Super-star Hiring Trait #4: Strong Work Ethic
- Super-star Hiring Trait #5: Leadership
- Super-star Hiring Trait #6: Integrity and Honesty
- Super-star Hiring Trait #7: Positive Attitude
- Super-star Hiring Trait #8: Assertiveness and Confidence
- Super-star Hiring Trait #9: Team Player
- Super-star Hiring Trait #10: Flexibility and Adaptability
- Super-star Hiring Trait #11: Emotional Intelligence
Of course, there’s no guarantee that anyone will become a superstar for your company. But with this list of traits to look for, I guarantee you improve your odds.
And you’ll get better at it as you continue growing and hiring. It becomes a sixth sense.
These are the best traits I have noticed from years of hiring (and firing). What traits of your superstar employees do you think should be on this list? Let me know in the comments below.
Until next time…
Keep AutoGrowin’, stay focused.
