When to stop hiring for experience and start hiring for initiative


Business should be simple. And fun.

Hey Reader

When Sandra joined my team as our Operations Manager, her resume didn’t exactly scream “modern online business.”

Her background looked more like this:

  • A career in education
  • A master’s in counseling
  • Years of administration and program development

What it didn’t say was:

  • Virtual operations
  • Client management in a digital environment
  • Experience supporting multiple businesses at once

On paper, she wasn’t a fit.
But on the practical, actually-get-things-done level — she was exactly who we needed.

(And ok, ok, yes… she’s my mom. So I’ll admit I believed in her from the start... but I declare that the point still stands!)

She had the transferable skills to:

  • Stay obsessed with structure and consistency
  • Call me out when I’m being chaotic
  • Think through the pitfalls of every new idea before we chase it

All the other stuff, systems, tech, workflows, was teachable.
That’s not always the case. Sometimes you need someone who already meets specific technical requirements (like our VAs).

But sometimes, character and initiative carry more weight than experience.
That’s when you get creative with 'requirements' and start thinking outside the resume.

That’s exactly what I’m diving into in this week’s Quickcast.

If you’ve ever hired someone who didn’t fit the mold, but who ended up being a game changer, I’d love to hear that story. Reply and tell me all about it!

Because the best hires don’t always look like the best hires at first glance.

P.S. If you’re ready to get structured about hiring (without losing the human side), check out The Hiring Kit — it’s the same framework we use internally to find people like Sandra.

Quickcast: Creative Hiring: How to Find Great Admin or Executive Assistant Talent (When Job Boards Fail You)

(📺Watch Time: 7:04)

video preview

Extras from the Auxo Arsenal


Rooting for your sanity and your success, always,

Sam, Your No-Fluff Guide To Making Business Simple

Psst...feel like you’re carrying too much of the load?

You don’t need to overhaul everything — you need a clear plan for what to keep, what to delegate, and how to make it stick.

That’s exactly what my Delegation Strategy Session is built for. In two hours, we’ll map your workload, spot the hidden time-wasters, and create a delegation plan you can actually trust.

👉 Book your session here and free up the headspace you’ve been missing.

PO Box #7626, Denver, CO 80207
Unsubscribe · Preferences

background

Subscribe to Samantha C. Prestidge