Hire Talent, Not Skills

Too many hiring managers write job descriptions and want ads based on the skills they are looking for in an employee rather than looking for talent. A skill is a learned competence. With enough training, almost anyone can be taught a particular skill. Talent, however, is much more rare. A talent, reflecting its etymological roots, is a gift. We use it in the sense of "a person who has a gift for xxx." Those are the people you should be looking to hire, whatever their skills.

With enough training, I could be taught to be a skilled salesman, but I never will have a talent for selling. Many people can read an income statement, but very few have the talent to use an income statement to identify great investment opportunities. I'm sure you know more people with good verbal communication skills than you know people who have a talent for talking to people and getting them fired up to do something. Skills are learned; talent is a natural aptitude.

The economy is beginning to recover. Very soon, good employees will be in short supply again. Now is the time to gain a competitive advantage by latching on to the top prospects. To do that, "Hire Talent, Not Skill."

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