Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Key Takeaways

Hire for learning velocity, not just past experience. Curiosity and the ability to apply feedback predict performance better than a resume does.

Separate the capabilities a role needs from credentials that describe past methods. Narrow job definitions shrink the talent pool just as AI changes the work.

Hiring in a service business has a way of challenging what you think you know about talent. Over the years, I’ve seen candidates who looked nearly perfect on paper struggle once the job became unpredictable. I’ve also watched people without the obvious résumé rise quickly because they could learn, communicate and make good decisions when nobody was standing beside them telling them what to do.

Those experiences have changed the way I think about qualifications.

Experience matters, particularly in positions that require specialized knowledge.…