The One Quality to Look for When Hiring

Several years ago I was dining with the vice-president of a major dental technology company and shortly after being seated, we quickly fell into deep, intense discussion.

Then we were interrupted by a young server with a bright smile. "I'm sorry," she said, "I can tell you are in a serious conversation, but I just want to tell you – I'm serious too. I'm serious about the food here and I'm serious about making sure you have a great meal and a great time. So, can I get you started with drinks?"

She was so charming that we couldn't help but laugh. Throughout the evening she continued to impress us with her efficiency and her genuine thoughtfulness. This was someone who obviously loved what she did and was great at it.

Toward the end of our meal my dining guest began talking with her more and finding out more about her background (they both had degrees in Biology, it turns out). He ended up handing her his card and said, "Call me. I want you to come work for me."

I know an opportunity when I see one, and I admit I am competitive. So as we were leaving, I pulled her aside and handed her my card. "Never mind him," I said half-jokingly. "You want to work for me. Give me your number and I'll have someone get in touch with you tomorrow. Because you are great at this, but you deserve an opportunity to do even more."

Those of you reading this who are familiar with our CEREC programs know the person I am talking about. Her name is Shayna and she has been an outstanding addition to our CEREC team. The doctors who deal with her inevitably come away with the same impression I did that first night I met her in the restaurant. Now she is charming them.

Shayna had absolutely no experience in the dental industry when we hired her, but I didn't care. We could teach her that. But you can't teach passion, and that is what I saw in her; that's what made me compete for her.

The primary consideration when hiring anyone should be their sense of passion. Of course when you are hiring a hygienist or assistant, the right credentials are important too. However, don't make your decisions based only on lines in a resume. Take a chance on someone who may not have the experience but shows all the signs of having the right attitude. Hire people with passion who really want to learn and grow and who obviously love what they do. In other words, hire people I would try to steal.