This is something we see far too often. Clients holding out for the “perfect” candidate, or reading too much into a CV alone, rather than taking the time to understand the full story behind the person.

At TESS Search Partners, we don’t just send through CVs. Every candidate is assessed against the brief, and we only put forward candidates we’re confident can do the role, and add value to the business. There’s always context behind why we’re presenting someone, not just what’s written on paper.

A recent example of this, we were working with a client who initially felt a candidate fell short on paper. Once we unpacked their experience properly, it became clear they had the right foundation, leadership capability and attitude to step into the role with the right support.

Especially after speaking with their references, everything we had initially felt about why we were presenting this candidate was reinforced. That’s often where the real insight sits, not just in the CV, but in how someone is perceived on site and how they actually operate day to day.

The reality is, in today’s market, there is rarely a “perfect fit.”

The strongest hires we see are those where clients look beyond the checklist and focus on:

• Attitude
• Values
• Trainability

…and are willing to invest in developing talent internally.

The market has shifted; the question is, has your hiring approach shifted with it?