Being a hard worker is one of the most important things an employee can be. “Hard worker,” of course, can cover many qualities. It can mean the person is very responsible and committed to getting the job done. They don’t gaze at the clock as the minute hand nears quitting time. They don’t come back late from lunch. It can also mean that they go full out on any task they do. Finally, it can mean they never complain about new tasks or the difficulty of the work.

But how do you spot hard workers in an interview? Here are three methods.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

If you ask an employee “Are you a hard worker?” many would say yes. The question’s form is closed; respondents can only answer yes or no. And most applicants would know better than to say no! Closed questions aren’t ideal for getting at how people see situations.

A better way is to ask how they act in certain situations. You could say something like “give me an example of when you went above and beyond for a job.” If they say they opened the office at 5 a.m. when 10 inches of snow had just fallen so a shipment could go out, that’s a testimony to their ability to work hard. If they answer, “I stayed 15 minutes over my shift,” that’s ok, but not as impressive as the first instance.

Look at the Job Application/Interview

How someone works at looking for a job is a good indicator of how they will approach a job. A well-done cover letter and high-quality resume generally mean the applicant has worked hard at it. Have they responded properly to the posting itself? That means they are conscientious and pay attention.

Were they on time to the interview? Did they work hard at establishing rapport, answering questions and selling their qualification? If they did, it’s a sign they will work hard at the job.

Touch Base With Former Employers

Finally, don’t neglect to talk to former employers. If the person indicated in the interview they are a hard worker, ask if their own assessment of their work ethic aligns with that of past supervisors. Ask if they worked hard, showed up on time and gave 110 percent. Were they flexible and cheerful about assignments? That’s all part of being a hard worker. You also may want to obtain a former supervisor’s contact instead of the company’s number so that you can get a better reference instead of a general HR response.

Finding the Right Employees

In today’s employment scene, finding hard working and conscientious employees is crucial. Assessing hard work, conscientiousness and diligence is more important than ever. We can help you find great candidates. Stride Staffing’s goal is to build stronger connections between employers and individuals by doing staffing differently. Really. Contact us today for our employment agencies in Mesquite, Texas, and other locations.