As you are expanding your team or replacing an employee who has recently left the company make sure to focus on the personality and abilities of that new individual, not the prestige they may bring. While the education and previous employment are absolutely important, don’t become enamored with “glamorous” companies or universities such as MIT, Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Stanford, Cambridge…as that alone will not guarantee a perfect fit for your needs. Quality of education and previous employment experience are certainly important, but don’t hire based on the names and brand awareness of those institutions.
In order to find that perfect fit needed today and valuable in years to come, one must focus on the individual as a whole, their character, personality and abilities. Seeing how they fit your team and how they will address immediate need and grow with the company is of crucial importance.