Team Culture is Everything: These are the Top Qualities Qwick Looks for in Every Interview Candidate
I’m passionate about company culture.
At Qwick, we take conscious steps to recruit and retain people who embrace our shared values and unique operational approach. It starts by valuing diversity — within backgrounds, mindsets, races, cultures, genders, and ideas. We are “free to be us,” as we like to say.
I see diversity as the engine that drives Qwick’s success. Diverse backgrounds and experience bring forth diverse approaches to problem-solving and innovative ideas. We hire individuals who think big and empower them to take initiative. We eliminate the traditional policies and hierarchies that block creativity, positioning people to take risks that will move us forward. And, we encourage team members to be their authentic selves at work.
I often say that our people are only everything and fostering an open environment in which all individuals feel compelled to contribute, is our first priority. That’s how Qwick got through a global pandemic, and that’s what continues to make us win.
So, how do we grow that company culture? It starts during interviews. When I meet individuals interested in joining the team, I don’t only look at work experience. Instead, I focus on six qualities that help candidates succeed within our company.
At Qwick, new hires should:
1. Put others first.
We’re guided by a passion for people. At Qwick, our vision is to create prosperity in the food and beverage industry by matching the best Professionals and business partners. We do this by demonstrating empathy and considering the needs of our Professionals, partners, and colleagues as we make decisions.
2. Display smarts.
I’m not looking for book smarts. I don’t care where — or if — you went to college. I want to know that you can face challenges and figure things out. Show me your resourcefulness.
3. Hustle Responsibly.
Another of Qwick’s cultural values is the ability to hustle responsibly. This is a startup, so we expect team members to hit the ground running and work hard every day, but we also want you to come to work rested to tackle unexpected challenges.
4. Operate with integrity.
Are you honest and truthful? To me, that’s probably the most important personal value someone can have. Stand up for what’s right and hold others accountable. I’ve worked with individuals who are super smart and hardworking, but if they lack integrity and morals, the challenges can outweigh the benefits.
5. Demonstrate grit.
At Qwick, we want you to try new things. We encourage you to take risks. Not everything will work, of course, but this isn’t a team that fears failure or dwells on mistakes. If a plan falls short, we want you to dust yourself off and help us learn from what happened.
6. Add to our culture.
In interviews, I get a gut feeling of how someone might interact with the Qwick team. I look for individuals who can hold productive conversations, add value, and contribute with compassion.
If you’re interested in joining the Qwick team, please check out our website to see our current openings.
