When I first became a manager, my boss shared this wisdom with me. Looking back, I should’ve implemented it sooner.

If there is something that turns you off about a candidate—not providing resume copies at the interview or lack of a follow up email after meeting—trust your gut. The candidate should be putting her best foot forward. If she’s not winning you over 100% before she’s hired, why would she win you over 100% as an employee? Since everyone should present their best selves at interviews, if someone is not impressing you during the interview, they are certainly not going to impress you if they work for you. Next.

When you are selecting a candidate for your team, don’t do it hastily. It is so much better to take your time and find the right candidate instead of rushing to fill the position with someone who has a few red flags. Those red flags are not likely to go away without your constant coaching and developing. And then if the red flags don’t ever go away, you have to let the person go, and then you’re back to square one, trying to fill a vacancy. Take your time. Don’t ignore the red flags. Demand significant wow factor. You deserve to be impressed, and your team deserves a new coworker who is impressive. Finally, remember, the right candidate is trying to find you too. 

Do you have experience trusting your instincts with a candidate? Tell us about it.