Deema’s Hiring Style: Looking Beyond the Resume

In today’s competitive job market, where resumes are polished to perfection and interviews are rehearsed like scripts, hiring often becomes an exercise in ticking boxes. But for Deema, hiring isn’t about checking credentials or matching a list of requirements. It’s about diving deeper—unearthing the raw potential that lies beneath the surface and finding talent that might otherwise go unnoticed. Here’s how Deema approaches hiring, and why her method challenges the status quo:

1. Soft Skills Are the Real Game-Changer

While technical skills and qualifications are important, they’re not the be-all and end-all of a great hire. Deema firmly believes that soft skills—such as adaptability, communication, empathy, and resilience—are what truly drive success in the workplace. “The way someone approaches problems, interacts with others, and bounces back from setbacks says more about their potential than any degree or certification ever could,” she explains.

2. Discovering the Story Beyond the Resume

For Deema, a resume is just the beginning. It’s a snapshot, not the whole story. She loves to uncover the human side of a candidate—their experiences, challenges, and motivations. “What lights them up? What have they overcome to be where they are today? These are the questions I ask because they reveal character, grit, and determination—qualities that don’t always fit into bullet points.”

This approach often leads her to find talent where others may not look—people with unconventional career paths, gaps in their resumes, or experiences that don’t conform to traditional trajectories.

3. The Resilient Over the Privileged

One of Deema’s most refreshing beliefs is that the best hires aren’t always those with the smoothest career journeys or the most prestigious educational backgrounds. In fact, she finds that individuals who have faced challenges—whether it’s navigating a less privileged upbringing, switching industries, or working their way up from entry-level roles—tend to have the resilience and determination to succeed.

“These are the people who know how to make things work, no matter the circumstances. They’ve fought harder, learned faster, and adapted more than someone who’s never faced adversity,” Deema says.

4. Technical Skills Can Be Trained; Attitude Cannot

Deema’s hiring mantra is simple: teach the technical, but hire for attitude. A strong work ethic, willingness to learn, and a positive attitude can’t be taught. On the other hand, most technical skills can be acquired through training or on-the-job experience.

“I’d rather hire someone with the right attitude and zero experience than someone with years of expertise but a poor mindset,” she states firmly. This philosophy prioritizes long-term potential over short-term convenience.

5. Mindset Can Be Coached, but Hunger Cannot

According to Deema, a growth mindset can be cultivated, but the hunger to learn and grow must come from within. “I can coach someone to think strategically, but I can’t create the hunger they need to push themselves to the next level. That’s something they have to bring to the table.”

Deema’s ability to identify this hunger has led her to build teams of individuals who are deeply invested in their own growth, ensuring they not only excel in their roles but also contribute to the company’s overall success.

 

Are Hiring Managers Making Life Difficult?

Deema doesn’t shy away from calling out traditional hiring practices. “Sometimes, we’re the ones making our lives harder,” she says. “Yes, there are roles that require certifications, licenses, or specific market knowledge gained through years of experience. But for most roles, the candidate with resilience, hunger, and adaptability will outperform someone who just ticks all the boxes.”

She emphasizes that hiring managers should rethink rigid criteria that exclude promising talent. “The ones who thrive aren’t always those with privilege or perfect resumes—they’re often the ones who’ve weathered storms and come out stronger.”

What Is Your Hiring Style?

Deema’s hiring philosophy is a call to action for hiring managers everywhere. It challenges us to look beyond the surface, to dig deeper into the human story, and to prioritize potential over perfection.

So, what’s your hiring style? Are you sticking to the conventional, or are you ready to take a leaf out of Deema’s book and discover the untapped talent waiting to prove themselves? The answer could redefine the way you build your team—and your business.

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