I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Carter Cast , the author behind The Right – And Wrong – Stuff : How Brilliant Careers Are Made And Unmade . Hiring success has a great influence on career success , and we discussed five negative archetypes that confront employers while filling a job opening . Together , we discovered some telltale signs that your interviewee may fall into one of these categories .

Captain Fantastic

While it might seem like “ Captain Fantastic ” would be a vital part of your team , they often cause division . Someone who is a “ Captain Fantastic ” is usually overambitious and has no qualms about stepping on others to get ahead . If you ’ re interviewing a candidate and they mention that their greatest accomplishments revolve around beating others rather than delivering value or developing teams , you probably have a “ Captain Fantastic ” on your hands .

Solo Flyer

Have you ever worked with someone who thinks their way is the best and only way to do something ? It ’ s very frustrating . While this type works well individually , this can be detrimental to a team environment . They usually claim to have no time or were too busy to accomplish their tasks ; in reality , they may fail to hire and delegate properly . I ’ ve met with many people who fit this category and end up leaving their job due to burnout after taking on too much work .

Version 1.0

Change is a necessity in the workplace , but sometimes people prefer to stick to their routine . To spot these people in interviews , listen to their stories and pay attention if they mention changes in the workplace and how they responded . If they stayed on the same path , that ’ s a red flag . I knew a manufacturing executive who failed to adapt to new technologies . This caused him to lose some of his biggest clients , and the business fell into a tailspin .

The One-Trick Pony These people usually get stuck in a rut because they rely on their greatest strength to solve all problems . They will often aim for lateral moves rather than trying to broaden their horizons . I interviewed a one-trick pony recently who wrote amazing copy but struggled when meeting with clients face-to-face . His communication skills weren ’ t strong enough to work with clients or lead large teams . His career became stagnant even though he was eager to grow and move up .

Whirling Dervish

Energetic employees improve morale and production in a workplace but sometimes lack the follow-through needed to complete projects . You can usually spot these people in interviews if you notice them avoiding your questions . They often come up with excuses for why they didn ’ t achieve results . Great ideas and strong morale do not make up for a lack of completion .

With knowledge of these archetypes , you can avoid hiring the wrong candidate for your team and , instead , focus on finding the perfect fit .

-Geoff Smart

About The Author

Dr . Geoff Smart is Chairman & Founder of ghSMART , a leadership consulting firm that exists to help leaders amplify their positive impact on the world . Dr . Smart and his firm have published multiple New York Times bestsellers . He stays active in his community and has advised many government officials .

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