As a finance and accounting recruiter, finding top talent for your organization is crucial for long-term success. Beyond technical skills and experience, it is essential to assess candidates based on their character attributes. These traits can significantly impact an individual’s performance, growth, and overall fit within the company culture.
In this blog, we’ll explore nine character attributes that are often sought after in finance and accounting professionals: Drive, Resiliency, Adaptability, Humility, Integrity, Curiosity, Collaboration, Minimum Intellectual Capacity, and Emotional Intelligence. We’ll also share with you interview questions that can help you more accurately assess these attributes and identify candidates who possess them. For more details and insight regarding each of these attributes check out our blog, “9 Essential Character Attributes of Top Finance & Accounting Leaders.”
1. Drive
Drive is the inner motivation and determination to achieve goals. It signifies a candidate’s willingness to go the extra mile and take initiative in their work. To assess drive, consider asking questions such as:
- Can you tell me about a time when you faced a challenging goal or deadline? How did you approach it?
- How do you stay motivated during difficult projects or tasks?
2. Resiliency
Resiliency refers to a candidate’s ability to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to change. To evaluate resiliency, ask questions like:
- Describe a situation where you encountered a major setback at work. How did you handle it?
- How do you handle unexpected changes or obstacles in your work?
3. Adaptability
Adaptability is the capacity to adjust to new situations, tasks, and responsibilities. To gauge adaptability, pose questions like:
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to quickly learn a new skill or work in a different role? How did you handle it?
- How do you approach working with new team members or in unfamiliar environments?
4. Humility
Humility refers to a candidate’s ability to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, accept feedback, and collaborate effectively. To assess humility, consider asking questions such as:
- Can you tell me about a time when you received constructive feedback? How did you respond?
- How do you balance advocating for your ideas while also valuing and respecting others’ opinions?
5. Integrity
Integrity reflects a candidate’s honesty, ethics, and moral principles. To evaluate integrity, ask questions like:
- Can you describe a situation where you had to make an ethical decision at work? How did you approach it?
- How do you handle situations where there is a conflict between your personal values and the company’s values?
6. Curiosity
Curiosity is the desire to learn, explore, and continuously improve. To gauge curiosity, pose questions like:
- How do you stay updated on the latest trends and changes in the finance and accounting industry?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you proactively sought out new knowledge or skills?
7. Collaboration
Collaboration is the ability to work effectively with others, contribute to team goals, and communicate openly. To assess collaboration, consider asking questions such as:
- Can you describe a situation where you had to work in a cross-functional team? How did you contribute to its success?
- How do you handle disagreements or conflicts within a team?
8. Minimum Intellectual Capacity
Minimum Intellectual Capacity refers to a candidate’s ability to handle complex problem-solving, analytical thinking, and intellectual challenges. To evaluate minimum intellectual capacity, ask questions like:
- Can you provide an example of a complex problem you solved in your previous role? How did you approach it?
- How do you stay mentally sharp and continuously develop your analytical skills?
9. Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence encompasses self-awareness, empathy, and the ability to manage emotions effectively. To gauge emotional intelligence, pose questions like:
- Can you describe a situation where you had to manage a difficult or emotional interaction with a colleague or client? How did you handle it?
- How do you handle stress and maintain a positive attitude during challenging situations?
While technical skills and experience are essential, assessing candidates based on their character attributes is equally crucial in finance and accounting recruitment. Drive, resiliency, adaptability, humility, integrity, curiosity, collaboration, minimum intellectual capacity, and emotional intelligence are nine character attributes that can significantly contribute to an individual’s success in their role.
By asking targeted interview questions to evaluate these attributes, you can identify candidates who possess the qualities necessary to excel in your organization. Remember, a well-rounded candidate with strong character attributes will not only contribute to their own success but also foster a positive and productive work environment for everyone.
Choose your interview questions wisely, and make character assessment an integral part of your recruitment process to attract and retain top talent in finance and accounting roles.
