Finding the right person to fill a job tough. It’s my weakest skill yet.
I have had 4 people taking my trade sales and marketing position in the last 2 years, and still can’t find the right fit.
Mind you, I’m no Scrooge; I’ve panned out titles from manager to executives, salaries from RM3 – RM4K. And I swear, it was no shoddy interview process.
Yet, somehow, I end up with staff the gives me ball-rolling exercises and push me further on my journey of cynicism.
I look for the usual traits required of a good salesperson:
- Extrovert – good inter-personal skills and can relate comfortably with people
- Must carry themselves confidently.
- Can speak “decent” English.
- Can work independently.
- Willing to go the extra mile.
- Willing to travel.
- Have car and can drive one.
I admit, my first staff, was too obedient. He was years of industry experience and spoke great English. I thought those traits were sufficient.
So when I hired his replacement, I added a new criteria: Must be street-smart and able to think on their feet i.e. resourceful, quick to troubleshoot and jump at opportunity.
My second one was just that. She was extremely street-smart, and she could charm customers out of their skin. Customers have nothing by praises for her. But she was a rebel and an attention-craver. An emotional time-bomb that later exploded on me when her baby popped; a risky staff that cause too much imbalance in the department’s culture. She is, however, my best staff of all the staff I have had for this portfolio.
My third one, can speak “decent” English. However, writing skills were missing. So was half her brain. A "chimbo" who told customer stock “frizzed” instead of stock “frozen”. I pretty much told her that the only time one can use the work frizz is when one is referring to public hair.
So... back to the hiring process one more time. This round, I conciously looked for good writing skills on top of all the other criterias.
The current one can speak and write reasonably well.
Thought I've done a pretty good jod until.....
Guess what – next time, even if candidates tell you they own their own cars, please remember to ask if they have motion sickness. We spent 4 days in traveling around Singapore in taxis. The poor guy spent half the time zoned out by anti-histamin, and the other half puking. Poor guy. And poor me, for this only means that I can't entrust him visit Singapore more often so I could focus on other areas.
Sigh… God is teaching me to be patient…I know. This is my lesson this life. But dear Goh, oh God, it’s already the 4th one, can’t you grant me a break.
