She can do it herself.
We’re hiring for a new junior designer position at Big Sea, and as I’m writing the job description I’m trying to put into words that indescribable quality that makes a great web designer. I know it when I see it – and it’s not just about great design skills. Because being a great web designer also requires an innate ability to figure things out.
In this industry (and, I suspect, a lot of technical positions with fast-paced changing environments), it’s less important to me that a new team member knows how to do something. I just want him/her to be able to figure out how to do it – and be able to discern the right approach versus the hack approach.
I want to hand off a project and know that you’ll be able to find a way to accomplish it – and ask for help where appropriate. With so many great resources available to learn new techniques, methods and languages, there’s no excuse for “I can’t.” It’s possible, and in almost all cases, someone has done it before.
I don’t know how people become resourceful, but I’ve always had the “I’ll do it myself” mentality that requires I figure out exactly how that can happen. I’m ridiculously proud that my stubborn, strong-willed 3-year-old is just as do-it-myself as I was am – because I know that a resourceful person is useful far beyond their educated knowledge or given talents.
A resourceful person is absolutely invaluable to a growing company. Someone who can span tasks and responsibilities; see things as possible rather than improbable. Someone who can make things happen.
I’m not looking for someone who’s the best at what they do for this position – but rather, I’m looking for someone who’s got the blend of talent with a drive to figure it out. Someone who’s reading the job description and not thinking, “I’ve done all of these things,” but, “I can do all of these things.”
It’s not about knowing how to do something – it’s about knowing how to find out how to do something. The resourcefulness to balance the talent and the passion. The “do it myself” way of seeing the world. I don’t know how to put that into a job description but I’m trying my hardest to put it into my daughter.
