Hiring for Skills vs Character

Welcome to this insightful episode of Cyber-Snapshot, where Derran, Michael, and Rick Byrne explore critical aspects of the hiring process that every leader should consider. Today’s episode addresses the complex dynamics of what’s more valuable in a candidate—their skills or their character—and extends the debate to include considerations like industry experience versus technical know-how. In This Episode:

  • Skills vs. Character: We delve into which attributes lead to long-term success within an organization.
  • Proficiency or Background: Discussing the importance of technical skills as compared to industry-specific experience.
  • Traits of an Ideal Team Player: Understanding the importance of being humble, hungry, and smart in our collaborative environment.
  • The Role of Human Skills: Highlighting the critical need for interpersonal skills in today’s digital workforce.
  • Team Priorities: Explaining our philosophy on team dynamics with the hierarchy of family, organization, team, and individual contributions.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone involved in hiring, managing teams, or looking to navigate their career with a deeper understanding of what makes a team successful.

Derran Guinan
Field CTO · Americas

Field CTO for the Americas at Veeam. 30+ years in IT and cybersecurity. I write about data protection, security architecture, and AI from the field — honest takes for practitioners, not press releases.

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