48.        In the hiring process, it is more difficult to assess personality and work habits than
to determine work experience and educational background. Even so, it is important to
try and judge the less quantifiable characteristics of a prospective colleague or
employee—such as honesty, reliability, creativity, self-motivation, and the capacity to
get along and work well with others. If it doesn't seem obvious that these are important
qualities in a coworker, then consider the alternatives.
      First of all, dishonest or unreliable workers harm an organization in many ways.
Dishonest employees impose costs on a company whether they steal on the grand or
small scale: jus; taking a few days of unwarranted sick leave here and there can add up
to significant lost productivity. And lying about progress on a project can result in
missed deadlines and even lost contracts. Unreliability works the same way; if an
employee cannot meet deadlines or fails to appear at important meetings, the
organization will suffer accordingly.
      In addition, coworkers who lack motivation or creativity take some of the life out
of an organization. To the extent that employees simply plug along, the company will be
less productive In contrast, employees who have imagination and the motivation to
implement ideas are productive and can spark those around them to greater
achievement.
      Finally, employees who cannot get along with or work well with others can as
well be detrimental to the organization. The mere presence of a troublemaker is
disruptive; moreover, the time such people spend on petty disagreements is time away
from getting the job done successfully. In addition, those who cannot smoothly
coordinate their efforts with others will end up making things more difficult for
everyone else.'
      In conclusion, it may not be easy to Judge the personality traits and work habits of
prospective employees, but it certainly is worth the effort to try. Having coworkers who
are honest, reliable, creative, self-motivated, compatible with one another and good
team players will greatly enhance everyone's work life, and benefit a organization In the
most significant way—with greater productivity.