Attention to details in Job Application

If anyone has been looking at my feed recently, you would have noticed that I am hiring for my team. I have been reviewing applications over the last 3 weeks ( yes, I still have not find the candidate that I think fits the team and project).

One of the things that I particularly look for is to evaluate the candidate's attention to details. Evaluation of a candidate starts from the first email you reply to me and throughout our communication in the hiring process. I am not sure how many hiring managers see/evaluate the same way as I do but I definitely do.

Why ?

Simple, if candidates can't follow the instructions that I have written in the mail even before they are hired, I have very little confidence that the candidates would follow instructions when they start to work in the team. This is partly of my management style; I in most situations will give my directs the space for them to solve and think on how to solve a problem and I don't micromanage or overly prescriptive to an extend that I specify each step of the way to do an assignment. So it means they have to make sound decisions and stick to the instructions/parameters given. I expect more of this from those hired at a senior level (I do cut some slack with the interns and fresh grads).

So folks, when you get an email or instructions from people who can influence the possiblity of you getting a job. Read it carefully and pay attention. No harm in asking if you are not sure or afraid you interpret the instructions wrongly.

Okay, I got this out of my system. To the candidates, hope to learn from you all when we speak.