Hiring by Job Title? You Could Be Missing the Best Candidates

If you're hiring right now, here's what to look for - especially if you want people who'll actually make an impact:

1. Career changes or lateral moves

That's often range, not red flags. People who've worked across functions bring real-world perspective.

1. Side projects or freelance work

Shows self-direction and creativity. A newsletter, online store, or passion project - it all counts.

1. Tool fluency (not just job titles)

They might not be a performance marketer, but if they're hands-on with Meta Ads, GA4, and CRO tools, they're already adding value.

1. Curious thinkers

Look for people who ask smart questions about campaign performance, audience insights, and product fit. They're thinking ahead.

1. Stakeholder experience

Whether they've worked across teams or managed clients, this shows they can navigate complexity and influence outcomes, especially in lean teams.

A lot of great candidates get passed over because they don't tick every box. But if you know what to look for, you'll find the ones who outperform.