HR Chronicles – “The trait I value most in jobseekers is sincerity”, says Adwaith Naimpally, HR Manager, Mondelēz International

HR Chronicles – In conversation with Adwaith Naimpally, HR Manager, Mondelēz International

What is the most important trait that you look for in a candidate irrespective of what the job description demands?

The trait I value most is sincerity. Sincerity in a job enables a person to do well in the most difficult of circumstances as I believe that the person will be able to adapt and do whatever is necessary to excel.

If you were to ask just one question based on which you would make an offer to a candidate, what would that be?

My question would be “Why did you quit your previous job?”

Looking at the resume, the kind of roles, the kind of exposure and a couple of other lead indicators, one can gauge how successful the candidate would have been in his previous organization.

Reasons for quitting previous jobs gives insights into what exactly the candidate is looking for and whether as an organization, we can match up to his/her expectations .

What would be the three books that you would like to recommend to our readers?

I wouldn’t go the usual way of recommending books by thought leaders as these books are quite renowned anyways.

“To kill a Mockingbird” is one of my favorites as it preaches a sense of conscientiousness like no other, and in today’s corporate world replete with pressures, it gives the importance of sincerity to duty whilst always siding with what is ethical and the right thing to do.

It is important to keep an eye on what is happening globally and the Economist is my favourite newspaper. In a connected world, trends affecting other countries are just a precursor of what will affect the economy in the next few weeks.

How much importance do you give to employee referrals in the overall hiring process?

Employee referrals are very important. Since the employee’s reputation is at stake, the candidates that come in meet quality standards that I seek. Also, the candidate is clear on what to expect and hence, is not in for a shock post joining.

What do you do to hone your recruitment skills to stay ahead of competition?

I rely heavily on competency based selection. Recruiting practices have to keep evolving and it is important to maintain networks so that you are up to date.