Finding — and hiring — hidden gems

Let’s be honest – some of our best hires haven’t always had the perfect resume. True potential isn’t captured in bullet points or years of experience. We’re talking about the retail worker who created an innovative stock rotation system during holiday rushes. The customer service rep who developed a new solution for tracking recurring customer issues. Or the recent graduate whose personal coding projects show more promise than their GPA.

While resumes serve their purpose, they often miss the qualities that truly predict success. That’s why smart talent professionals adopt creative approaches to uncover hidden potential. Here’s how:

Problem-solving scenarios

Present candidates with real challenges your team has faced. For example, share a situation like: “Our warehouse team is experiencing delays during shift changes. How would you approach this?” Watch their thought process unfold as they respond – how they ask questions, consider different angles, and develop solutions.

Mini job auditions

Create condensed versions of actual job tasks. Have customer service candidates handle a series of mock calls, including that challenging angry customer scenario. Let potential team leads organize a small project with a tight deadline. These real-world simulations reveal natural abilities that no resume could capture.

Project-based assessments

Assign small, relevant projects that showcase problem-solving abilities. Ask marketing candidates to analyze a basic campaign and suggest improvements or have HR coordinator candidates draft a response to a common employee question. Give them enough freedom to demonstrate their creativity and judgment.

Behavioral group activities

Include brief group exercises where candidates work together to solve a problem. Watch for who naturally takes the lead, who ensures everyone gets heard, and who brings innovative ideas to the table. These dynamics often reveal leadership potential and collaboration skills that might never show up on a resume.

Remember, some of your best future employees might not check every box on the job description, but they bring energy, adaptability, and innovative thinking that will help your organization thrive. By looking beyond the resume and creating opportunities for candidates to demonstrate their capabilities, you’ll uncover the hidden gems that others might miss.