Understanding 'Work Personality': a smarter way to make hiring decisions

Ever feel like traditional hiring processes fall short in selecting the right fit for your team? Well, you’re not alone. The challenges of pinpointing the ideal candidate often lie in focusing on surface-level traits rather than digging deeper into what truly matters—how they’ll fit and thrive within your team. Enter the concept of Work Personality, a fresh approach to hiring that offers a more detailed and insightful way to understand candidates beyond their CVs.

If you’re wondering how Work Personality differs from traditional frameworks, or how it could even reshape the success of your team, don’t worry—we’ll break it down for you.

Introducing Work Personality: going beyond the resume

When you’re hiring, it’s easy to get caught up in what candidates have done—like meeting targets or firing off speedy email replies. But if we only look at those surface-level actions, we risk missing out on what really makes someone tick. You want to know not just what people do, but why they do it, how they think on their feet, and whether they’ll actually gel with your team. Think of it as moving from reading a summary to diving into the whole novel—suddenly, the real story comes to life.

That’s where Work Personality makes all the difference. Instead of just tracking actions, we look at the behaviours and underlying drivers—what gets someone up in the morning, how they handle tough moments, how adaptable they are, and what actually motivates them. Zooming in on these personality traits and team dynamics means you’re better equipped to make hiring decisions that aren’t just smart on paper, but genuinely right for your culture.

Why team dynamics matter more than you think

A stellar candidate on paper doesn’t always guarantee smooth sailing. They could have the best technical skills but feel out of place in your team’s environment, leading to friction, low morale, or costly turnover. That’s why understanding your current team’s dynamics should be step one in any strategic hiring plan.

When you measure Work Personality, you can assess how a new hire’s traits complement or challenge the existing team dynamics. By seeking candidates who align not just with the role but with how the team operates, you set the stage for productivity, innovation, and long-term success.

Here’s a mental picture for you—imagine your team is a jigsaw puzzle. You don’t just need another pretty piece; you need the one that clicks perfectly with the others so the whole picture shines.

The three pillars of smarter hiring decisions

Once you get the hang of Work Personality, the process of getting the best hires is a lot more straightforward. Here are three key stages to leverage Work Personality in your hiring process.

1. Understand the team

Start by taking stock of your team’s personality landscape. Who are the analytical thinkers? Who are the collaborators? Who thrives in high-pressure situations? What type of personality is needed to strengthen your team?

Tools like Compono Engage give you in-depth insights into your team’s behavioural blueprint, helping you identify gaps and opportunities for alignment.

2. Ask smarter questions

Armed with Work Personality insights, you can craft interview questions that go beyond cookie-cutter prompts like “Tell me about a time you solved a problem.” Instead, tailor your questions to uncover traits that align with your team’s needs. For instance, if collaboration is lacking in your current setup, ask about experiences working in cross-functional teams or strategies for handling conflict.

3. Define a scoring framework

A structured scoring framework tied to Work Personality profiles ensures hiring decisions aren’t left to gut feeling (we’ve all been burned by that before). Assess candidates against defined markers not just for skills, but also for culture fit, adaptability, and motivation.

By integrating these steps, you can sidestep the guesswork and focus on building a team that truly works together harmoniously.

Why Compono is your go-to for smarter hiring

Making the leap to a Work Personality-driven hiring strategy doesn’t have to be overwhelming. At Compono, we’re here to act as your strategic advisor—not just a provider of tools but a partner that enhances how you hire and manage teams.

Our Hire platform simplifies candidate assessment with scientifically backed tools, so you’re armed with data that takes the guesswork out of decision-making. Tack on Engage, and you’ve got the insights to not only fill gaps, but also supercharge team dynamics, ensuring every hire boosts cohesion and productivity.

With these integrated solutions, you’re not just filling job vacancies—you’re building a high-performing, aligned team designed for long-term success.

Take the first step towards better hiring

Switching to a Work Personality framework isn’t just about improving hiring outcomes—it’s about empowering your team to thrive in the long run. Whether you’re scaling up, addressing cultural misalignment, or simply looking to reduce hiring mistakes, Work Personality insights are the key to unlocking your team’s full potential.

Want to see how it works?
Explore our Hire and Engage platforms to experience the smarter way to hire. 

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