Some of the best hires don’t come from resumes, but from conversations.

Traditional interviews will get you traditional candidates. But when I think about the people I’ve most enjoyed working with, very few came through a job board.

Those who’ve worked the hardest, fit in with ease, and who gained my trust immediately have shown up through unexpected channels.

Some have appeared across from me at a dinner table, others on a long flight or at a nonprofit board meeting.

They weren’t looking to pitch themselves – they were just being themselves.

And it’s precisely in those places outside of the interview-room where you see the stuff that doesn’t show up on a resume.

Skillsets are clear on paper, but the way someone thinks, how they carry themselves, or what they value tends to show up outside of traditional settings.

I’ve reviewed hundreds of resumes with little return, while more than once, I’ve met someone in a non-business context and thought, “We need to find a way to work with this person.”

That’s why, at LANDCO NEXA, we try to recognize alignment before a job description even exists. We stay in conversation with the world around us and make room when the right person crosses our path.

If you’re only looking inside the interview room, you might be missing the person you actually want.

Mark Lester, Principal LANDCO NEXA