TOP 10 SKILLS WE LOOK FOR IN A NEW HIRE

July 27, 2021

The employment market is an ever-changing environment, and here at Spot, we’re consistently hiring for sales and customer service-focused roles. When it comes to what Spot is looking for when filling our open positions, it’s about more than just technical skills. It’s often the soft skills that separate an average employee from a stellar employee! We recently chatted with our Recruiting team to garner their insight into the top 10 skills they look for in a new hire and what makes certain candidates stand out from the pack.

Our Recruiting Team: Front = Christian (Charlotte) & Lauren (Indy); Back = Shelby & Isaac (Indy)

1.) Communication

The ability to communicate, whether verbally or in writing, is vital for success as Spot is a service-oriented organization. With the majority of our roles, you spend most of your day on the phone conversing with shipper customers, truck drivers, or internal employees. A great communicator has the ability to motivate others and make sense of any situation, which is pivotal in a sales environment.

2.) Detail-Oriented

One of Spot’s core values (and what we like to call our S^4 values) is “we do the little things right.” Our employees deal with so many detail-focused items on a daily basis, such as entering order numbers and estimated time of arrivals for shipments. If a mistake is made, that’s the difference between a time-sensitive load of goods showing up at the right place at the right time.

3.) Customer Service-Focused

Good customer service is the cornerstone of our business, which ultimately leads to happy customers and positively affects Spot’s growth. From our 24/7 Logistics department to our tech support team, every Spot employee must approach each interaction they have as an opportunity to acquire, retain, or up-sell our customer base.

4.) Personable

All of our roles are relationship-driven, whether that’s building relationships with prospective candidates so they ultimately want to join the team or learning more about a carrier so they continue hauling loads for us. You can’t strengthen relationships without being personable and keeping a positive attitude no matter how stressful a situation may become.

5.) Adaptable

The logistics industry is constantly evolving, and every morning, you’ll walk into a different challenge. Working in transportation requires flexibility and “rolling with the punches” even if things don’t go as planned.

6.) Self-Starting

One of the most beneficial things about working at Spot, especially in a sales role, is that you have the opportunity to create your own path and operate with an entrepreneurial mindset. It’s imperative that you’re motivated to set and achieve goals while taking the initiative to set yourself up for success each and every day.

7.) Problem-Solving

Spot was founded on the belief that there’s a better way to move freight, which means it’s our job to problem solve on behalf of our customer. On most days, Spot employees are forced to deal with difficult situations and complicated business problems, so being up for the challenge is key.

8.) Forward Thinking

Every day, there’s a new lesson to be learned at Spot, so understanding how to react to these lessons and how they impact the future will make things easier the next time you run into a similar situation.

9.) Perseverant

You have to learn to hear the word “no” a lot. When you’re negotiating with carriers or trying to bring on a new customer, you won’t always get the outcome you’re searching for. However, continuing to do something in a determined way despite any roadblocks that pop up along the way is what perseverance is all about!

10.) Coachable

While learning the ins and outs of the industry, it’s important not to take things personally and instead see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Being open to asking for and receiving feedback is the only way to become better in your role.

Join our Team!

If you feel like you have what it takes to join the team and are interested in working somewhere where each day brings something new, click here to view our open positions at our Indianapolis and Charlotte locations.