what resumes miss

last year i rejected most candidates with perfect resumes and great interviews.

not because they were bad. they weren't. polished resumes, smooth interviews, good schools. all the markers hiring managers look for.

but after watching thousands of entry-level hires, i noticed something. the resume tells you almost nothing about who will succeed.

interviews are worse. they measure who's good at interviews.

character strengths predict job performance better than iq tests or personality assessments. much better. but most hiring managers never look for them.

what matters instead are traits you can't see on paper.

first, the courage to stand alone. greatness requires being misunderstood. the best people break rules not from rebellion but because they see a better way when nobody else does. they're willing to stand alone when the path demands it.

second, a fire to prove something. external motivation burns out fast. but something to prove to yourself? that's permanent fuel. we hunt for that internal engine, forged in past struggles, that turns a job into a mission.

third, the wisdom to play the fool. being willing to learn predicts success as strongly as raw intelligence. the person most afraid of looking amateur will remain one forever. we look for those who ask questions others think are stupid, who risk looking clumsy to master their craft. their hunger to learn outweighs their ego.

these traits matter everywhere. entry level to executive. and unlike iq, they can be developed.

skills can be taught. but this combination of character traits is rare. when you find it, you don't hesitate.

your next top performer might have a messy resume. but their character? that's what will build your company.