If you don’t have effective leaders in place, your company won’t prosper. And when it comes time to hire one, the resume can often be your first glimpse into an individual’s background and skill level. What factors should you look for when evaluating them?

Stability.

High employee turnover is costly for every company, but it’s even more so when an executive hire doesn’t work out. As a result, when you’re recruiting, it’s important to look for employment stability in a leader’s background. In other words, have they remained in each position for a significant amount of time? Regardless of a candidate’s skill set or achievements, if they have a history of bouncing around employers, then don’t expect them to stay with your company for long.

Experience.

Obviously management experience is important when you’re recruiting executive candidates. But it’s also important to look for those who have relevant experience. For instance, has a candidate managed a team similar to the one they would lead at your company? Were they responsible for meeting comparable goals? While there’s always a learning curve with every new hire, you also want them to be able to get up to speed as quickly as possible. They need relevant experience in order to do so.

Achievements.

Besides experience, you should also be looking for candidates who have a tangible record of accomplishments and awards. An individual can have the most experience, however if they don’t have the track record and proven results to back it up, then they may not be able to deliver once on the job. Tangible achievements are proof that a candidate can do what they say they can do. Avoid candidates who offer vague statement such as “Helped grow the business,” and instead look for those that provide specific details like “Added 10 clients over a three month period.”

Communication Skills.

Regardless of the management position you’re seeking to fill, hiring a candidate with strong communication skills is crucial. Look for those candidates who communicate well via their cover letter and resume. That means those who are clear, succinct, persuasive and professional.

Screening resumes is one of those crucial steps toward finding the right candidate for your opportunity. Follow the tips above and you’ll be able to hone in on those individuals who are true stand-outs.

If you need more help with the process, call Pacific Staffing. As an executive placement firm in Rancho Cordova, CA, we have extensive experience in sourcing, evaluating and helping companies hire mission critical professionals for executive level positions. To learn more about how we can help your organization, please contact us today.