What is Talent anyway?

There are many definitions available for the word “Talent”  such as the Webster definition “any natural ability or power.” I believe that Talent from a business or hiring perspective must go far beyond the “natural ability” and include the life experiences of SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE and MOTIVATION. I believe that all 4 of these attributes must be present for someone to be considered a real Talent from a hiring perspective.

Smart people are often considered to be really talented but if they lack the experience, skills or motivation they are only smart.

When a hiring manager is looking to hire Talent he/she should be trying to gauge their Talent by comparing the four attributes noted above. Very often the focus in information technology hiring is based only on the Skills and Experience attributes. I suspect because these are the easiest to ascertain by reading a resume. Knowledge is difficult to judge because some candidates are just better communicators than others and come across as smart. Of all the attributes MOTIVATION is one of the most important. Without motivation even a candidate with the other three attributes (Skills, Knowledge and experience) can be a dud. With motivation even if the other 3 attributes are diminished the hiring manager can still make a good hire.

QUESTION TO TEST YOUR TALENT

So the question I would ask anyone who is trying to further their career and trying to become a better Talent is – Are you doing everything you can to enhance your Talent attributes?

Are you working to develop and further your marketable SKILLS?

Are you accepting assignments to enhance your marketable EXPERIENCE?

Are you studying, testing, networking, communicating, discovering to expand your marketable KNOWLEDGE? This may even include your learning new languages, technologies, physical experiences etc.

And are you truly MOTIVATED by the work you do?

QUESTION TO THE HIRING MANAGER SEEKING TALENT

Have you developed an interviewing technique to uncover the depth of accomplishment in the areas of SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE and MOTIVATION when you seeking to upgrade or grow your team? Or are you only focused on the skills and experience attributes? Work a little bit harder and you’ll make a better hire.

Rick Zabor