I ate lunch with a client at an adorable café in Denver, CO. They had listed on the menu a kale and quinoa salad that included “Market Finds”.
I asked the kind server, “What is a Market Find?”
She smiled widely and replied, “We go to the market every day to buy our ingredients. A market find is whatever we find that looks good at the market that day.” That day the market find was golden beets. YUM!
Her statement suddenly struck me as relevant to interviewing for employees. I teach my clients about the importance of an ideal candidate description, and yet, this server reminded me that we can sometimes be too rigid with our expectations.
When we are hiring for a new employee, we can make the requirements so strict that we miss what is amazing about a person and their potential contributions to our teams. Common examples that I hear for firm requirements often relate to experience levels and skill sets. There are some jobs where specific certifications, education and/or skill level are required, but often employers get hung up on a candidate having a skill set that can be easily taught.
Yes, I am an advocate for having a base line to measure for a great candidate. Be sure to also leave room for “Market Finds” which opens the door to out-of-the-box candidates. These hidden treasures can often be what life is all about, and you can’t “beet” that.