When it’s time to bring on additions to our management group, the person we hire often depends on the need. It might be a highly experienced and specialized candidate, or it could be one who shows more raw talent, street smarts and desire. We’ve learned that going with the most experienced candidate generally has the fastest ROI, but it’s not always the best decision long term. Here’s why.

We can teach the different construction talents needed to be successful, but desire and tenacity have to be inherent. That’s why we first look for managers who share our values and are receptive to being coached. When the person is learning from our team, we can teach things our way, and gratitude for the opportunity often means someone will try even harder. Our project teams includes college graduates who majored in building science, engineering and even liberal arts. If you came to our office, I would bet you’d have a tough time figuring out which degree goes with which manager.