What do Employers and Hiring managers really want?

In my journey through various jobs and experiences, I’ve often wondered: what do hiring managers truly want? Is it the “yes-man” who agrees with everything, follows every rule to the letter, and never questions the status quo? Or is it the thinker, the one who brings fresh ideas, innovation, and a willingness to challenge norms? You’d think the latter would be the obvious choice. After all, progress and success often come from creativity and diversity of thought. But in reality, it seems more complicated than that.

I’ve worked in environments where ideas were encouraged—on the surface. “We value input from everyone,” they’d say. But when push came to shove, the unspoken rule was clear: fall in line or face the consequences. Any deviation from the prescribed way of doing things was met with resistance or outright dismissal. (At one job, I swear I saw an actual eyebrow twitch whenever I used the phrase “What if we tried...”)

Then there are the jobs where being a “yes-man” is practically a requirement. You’re there to follow instructions, not to think. You’re told what to do, how to do it, and that’s the end of the conversation. And don’t even think about suggesting a different approach unless you’re prepared for an uphill battle. (Picture a salmon swimming upstream, except the stream is full of bureaucracy and “This is how we’ve always done it” signs.)

It’s a paradox, really. We’re taught to think outside the box, to innovate, to bring value. But when it comes to hiring, it seems many managers are more comfortable with the box than with the person who doesn’t fit inside it.

The Box Mentality

Resumes, for example, are a prime example of this box mentality. There’s one right way to write a resume—a template you must follow to the letter. Stray from that, and your application gets tossed. Creativity? Personality? Forget it. If your skills and experiences can’t be condensed into bullet points and formatted just so, you’re out of luck. (I sometimes wonder if resumes are judged on their resemblance to IKEA instructions: simple, uniform, and slightly baffling.)

But here’s the thing: I’ve never found a box I fit into. And I’m not alone. Many of us don’t fit into the standard molds. We think differently, see solutions others might miss, and approach problems from unique angles. My mind, for instance, has always been an enigma. No one can figure out how it works, how I think, or what my thought process is. Is that good or bad? Honestly, I’m not sure. Some days it feels like a superpower; other days, it’s more like trying to assemble a jigsaw puzzle without the picture on the box. Yet, the system often penalizes us for these very traits. (It’s like being a square peg in a world of round holes, but instead of admiring your edges, they’re sanded down.)

Of course, I know my wandering mind sometimes gets me into trouble. Whether it’s overthinking a problem, chasing a wild idea, or proposing something that’s “not how we do things here,” it’s not always smooth sailing. But is it worth it? Absolutely. Because every so often, one of those wild ideas turns out to be just what’s needed. And honestly, life’s too short to always play it safe. (Besides, where’s the fun in swimming downstream with all the other fish?)

What Should Hiring Managers Value?

If I could speak directly to hiring managers, I’d ask them to reconsider their approach. Yes, structure and consistency are important, but so is adaptability. A team full of “yes-men” might run smoothly, but it’s unlikely to thrive in the face of challenges or change. A team with diverse thinkers, on the other hand, has the potential to excel, to innovate, and to push boundaries. (Think of it like a potluck dinner: if everyone brings the same dish, it’s going to be a pretty boring spread.)

Hiring someone who thinks for themselves isn’t a risk; it’s an investment. It’s an opportunity to bring in fresh perspectives, new ideas, and perhaps even a better way of doing things. It’s acknowledging that the world isn’t black and white and that the best solutions often come from those willing to explore the gray areas. (Or as I like to call it, “the colorful chaos of possibility.”)

A Final Thought

To those of us who don’t fit into boxes, let’s not lose heart. The world needs us. And to those who hire, I’d say: take a chance on the thinker, the dreamer, the one who colors outside the lines. You might just find that they’re exactly what your organization needs. (Plus, wouldn’t it be nice to finally have someone on the team who can answer the age-old question: “What if we tried...”)

And one last thing: the more I dive into writing, the more appealing it becomes. It’s funny how stringing words together can feel like both a challenge and a joy. Maybe this wandering mind of mine has found its latest adventure??

Please feel free to leave a comment, your thoughts!!

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