How to Hire the Right Person Every Time

When you’re hiring people for jobs in construction, warehousing, or manufacturing, finding the right candidate isn’t just about their CV. Effective hiring involves spotting the skills, attitude and values that make someone a great fit for your team. From our experience in supporting hundreds of employers with labour hire and construction recruitment support, the team here at OneStaff has gathered a few nuggets of wisdom for finding excellent candidates.

Here’s a practical guide to help you identify suitable candidates, so your next hire is the best one yet.

1. Look Beyond the CV

Work experience is valuable and qualifications are important, but they don’t always tell the full story. Consider the whole picture and any information that suggests a pattern about the candidate. Here is what to look for:

• A history of reliability: Do they have a history of steady employment or positive references?
• Problem-solving skills: Have they tackled challenges or learned new tasks quickly in previous roles?
• Motivation and work ethic: Has the candidate worked their way up into jobs with more responsibility over time?

Someone’s CV might not scream “team player” or “adaptable,” so the best way to identify these attributes is the job interview. Effective interviewing can help you dig deeper into these qualities.

2. Prioritise Attitude Over Perfection

Skills can be taught, but attitude? That’s harder to change. A candidate who’s eager to learn, reliable, and team-oriented can be a better long-term investment than someone who checks every technical skill box but isn’t coachable.

When interviewing candidates, ask questions like:

• “Can you tell me about a time you solved a tricky problem on the job?”
• “What’s one skill you’ve recently picked up? How did you learn it?”

3. Identify a Safety Mindset

In industries like construction, warehousing and manufacturing, respect for safety is what ensures everyone gets home to their family every day. Hiring someone who has a safety-first mindset is just as important as their skill in operating tools or driving heavy vehicles.

Here are clues to watch for during the hiring process:

• How they communicate during interviews: Clear and respectful answers suggest good workplace habits.
• Their approach to safety: Do they mention following safety protocols? Can they share examples of prioritising safety at work?

4. Test for Practical Skills

A hands-on trial or skills assessment can help you see how a candidate performs under real-world conditions. Whether it’s a forklift test or assembling machine parts, a trial gives you insight into their technical skills and how they handle pressure.

The additional benefit of using work trials is you can assess a candidate’s teamwork abilities – watch how they interact with others during the task.

5. Check for Cultural Fit

Your team’s culture matters. Someone who thrives in a tight-knit crew or enjoys fast-paced environments will likely hit the ground running. The interview will help you uncover whether a candidate will make a good cultural fit or not.

How to gauge this:

• Share examples of your team’s work style and ask how they’d fit in.
• Pay attention to their values – are they serious about the values your team has? For example, teamwork, accountability and safety?

6. Don’t Skip the References

Along with asking the right questions in the interview, speaking to the candidate’s referees gives insight into how they work. References are more than a formality; they’re your chance to confirm what a candidate brings to the table.

What to ask their referees:

• “Was the candidate reliable and punctual?”
• “How did they handle feedback or unexpected challenges?”
• “Would you hire them again?”

The answers will often give you important insights that can influence your decision to hire that candidate. When you’re working with a reputable labour hire and construction recruitment agency, the recruitment consultant will take care of the reference-checking process for you.

7. Be Transparent About the Role

To set your candidates up for success, it helps being upfront about what the job involves. Tell them about the good, the tough aspects, and the perks. In other words, don’t sugar coat it! This helps you attract people who are genuinely interested and ready for what’s ahead.

What to share:

• Work hours, physical demands, and key responsibilities.
• Opportunities for training or progression – this matters to candidates looking for long-term roles.

8. Trust Your Gut

Sometimes, your instincts can tell you what a CV or interview can’t. If someone feels like they’d fit into your team and your company’s values, they might be the person you’re looking for, even if their experience isn’t perfect.

Key Takeaways

Rushing to fill a position might solve a short-term problem, but finding the right person will benefit your team and your business in the long run. The key is to look for the qualities that make someone dependable, adaptable, and easy to work with. And remember, every great team starts with great hires.

Labour Hire & Construction Recruitment with OneStaff

Ready to find your next team player? At OneStaff, we’ve helped place thousands of candidates in a range of labour hire and permanent positions across New Zealand. We’re here to help you with all aspects of recruitment, from reviewing CVs and interviewing to reference checking and more. For expert support in making a hire you can count on, get in touch with us today.