Ask any contractor what their biggest headache is right now, and chances are they’ll mention hiring. Good people are hard to find. Even harder to keep. The construction industry has been facing a skilled labor shortage for years, and it is not going away anytime soon.
So when you finally get a stack of resumes or a few strong candidates, the pressure to choose “the best” can feel overwhelming. Do you hire the most experienced person, the one who looks great on paper? Or do you go with someone who may not have the same skill level but feels like a better fit for your company?
Marc Visent, CEO of Knowify, recently talked about this challenge on an episode of The Cost Codes Show. His perspective was clear: talent matters, but fit matters more. That lesson hits home for trade contractors who are building growing businesses.
In construction, technical skills are obviously important. You need people who know how to do the work. But raw talent alone does not guarantee success on the jobsite or inside the office.
Think about the person who shows up with years of experience but struggles to work with others. Or the hire who knows their trade but refuses to adapt to the way your company operates. Those situations create friction, lower morale, and often lead to turnover.
Hiring for fit means asking:
Talent can be taught and improved. Fit is much harder to fix.
Marc explained that at Knowify, they intentionally hire people who are the best fit for the stage of their company, even if it means sacrificing a bit of raw talent. Why? Because the right people will grow with the business. They will adapt when the environment changes. And they will stay, while “star players” who don’t fit the culture often leave.
For contractors, the same principle applies. A jobsite is rarely smooth. Conditions change. Schedules shift. Change orders are added. If your crew expects everything to be controlled and predictable, they won’t last. But if you hire people who thrive in that environment, you’ll have a team that sticks together through the ups and downs.
Hiring for fit is not about lowering your standards. It is about looking at the bigger picture. Here are a few ways to do it:
When you hire the right people, your jobsite runs smoother. Mistakes are fewer. Morale is higher. And you avoid the constant disruption of rehiring and retraining.
Yes, it takes longer to find these people. And yes, sometimes it means passing on someone with more experience. But over time, the investment pays off. You end up with a team you can trust to represent your company well and grow alongside you.
In today’s construction labor market, talent is scarce. But chasing resumes without considering fit is a mistake. The best crews are built on people who are dependable, adaptable, and aligned with your company’s way of working. Hire for fit first, and the talent will follow.
Knowify is financially-focused job management software for the trades. With tools to help you stay profitable, stay on track, and stay organized, Knowify gives you everything you need to manage all of your project and service work from proposal to payment. Get started with a free 14-day trial today.
