I have recruited for over 15 years in diverse industries (media, financial services, management consulting, pharma/ biotech, education) at different levels (interns through senior executives) and in different roles (strategy and operations, creative and business, freelance and permanent). The searches would differ, of course – in terms of where I would look for candidates or how competitive the field would be. However, regardless of industry, level role, or how the search was conducted, I was always looking for a positive answer to these 3 questions:

Can you do the job?

This is what most candidates already focus on – aligning their skills and experience with what the job description says. A well-prepared candidate goes line-by-line through a job description and has specific examples to demonstrate each requirement and job responsibility. The best candidates don’t assume that the job description is accurate or exhaustive. The job posting could be outdated or merely a template that the hiring department didn’t fully customize. Make sure you confirm during your interviews the exact requirements for the job and expectations from management so you can highlight exactly what the decision-makers are seeking.

Can you do the job HERE?

You might be able to functionally do the job and even do the job better than most, but can you be successful with the environment, culture, team and expectations that this particular employer offers? To effectively answer this question, you need to know, not just the job, but the company and how that job fits into the overall organization and objectives of the specific company...Continue reading the rest of the post at http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2012/05/07/the-3-things-recruiters-look-for-in-every-hire-regardless-of-the-job/

This post originally appears in my Work In Progress blog for Forbes.com.