What Senior Leadership Looks for in New Hires

• Julia Hall
• September 02, 2026
• Media Article

What separates a good new hire from a great one? Discover what senior leadership values in new employees and how passion, curiosity, teamwork, and initiative can help you stand out.

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Everyone knows the saying “it’s not what you know, but who you know,” but very few realize just how important professional connections are in the workplace. As a new hire, it can be easy to focus on your grades, knowledge, and skills as your most important assets, but is that really what senior leadership is looking for?

 

For many companies, culture is everything. Positive relationships between colleagues and a collaborative work environment boost employee morale and support effective communication. This is what creates success.

 

To better understand what senior leadership looks for in successful candidates, I interviewed Syngenta’s District Manager, Norm Sutherland.

 

With over 15 years of experience leading front-line sales teams throughout Ontario, Norm has finely tuned his hiring criteria. Without giving away any of his trade secrets, we had a great discussion about how new talent can leave a lasting impression.

 

Q: “When you’re hiring someone new, what qualities or characteristics stand out to you most?”

A: “Passion for the specific role, not just their overall passion and attitude”

 

In today’s job market, it can be easy to fall into the trap of mindlessly applying to positions, whether you are interested in them or not. While that may increase your chances of someone seeing your resume, landing an interview, or maybe even securing the role, it won't do you any favours in the long run.

 

An ideal candidate will be passionate about their day-to-day work. Before starting a position, think to yourself:

 

· Do you like the idea of doing these things?

· Would you be excited to work in this type of position?

 

A positive attitude, combined with genuine passion, will keep you engaged and ready to take on new projects and solve problems.

 

Q: “Beyond technical skills and experience, what makes a new hire really valuable to a team?”

A: “The key to ensuring you are a valuable asset is making sure that you are being helpful. Not just to customers, but to teammates, and others in the organization.”

 

As a new hire, you should be working your hardest to make your team members’ lives easier. Even if what you help with seems like a small task, they will see the value you provided. Nobody hires new talent to give themselves more work. Being proactive and finding new tasks you can manage will increase your perceived value as part of the team.

 

Q: “What do you think separates a good hire from a great one?”

A: “The primary knowledge you have creates a solid foundation; however, new market dynamics, technologies, and how to work more productively are changing quicker than ever.”

 

With the ever-changing agriculture industry, having the capability, willingness, and desire to learn and expand your skillset is crucial. In today’s world of YouTube, podcasts, and social media, there are endless resources for candidates to learn about the industry themselves.

 

Developing curiosity is a highly valued skill. The world is changing quickly, and you should take advantage of that.

 

Q: “Are there any common mistakes you see new employees make when starting a new role?”

A: “Don’t be shy to ask lots of questions - if it is a brand-new task, you are not expected to know exactly how to do it. If someone gets frustrated by someone inquisitive, that is their issue, not yours.”

 

Not everyone working in agriculture has an agriculture background, and senior leadership knows that. While industry experience is valued, you can always expand your agriculture knowledge on the job with the help of your leadership.

 

You shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions, and if you are, ask yourself why? Your leadership expects you to be inquisitive and speak up when you need clarification- so don’t be afraid to reach out when you need it.

 

Q: “If you could tell students one thing about what employers are really looking for, what would it be?”

A: “As you build your knowledge and confidence, you will be able to consistently do what is asked for and a little bit more - don’t be shy to make recommendations beyond what is specifically asked of you. Your manager doesn’t have all the answers either!”

 

Oftentimes, mistakes can go unnoticed in someone's daily routine. One benefit of hiring new talent is their fresh eyes, so use them! As you are working on your daily tasks, make it a point to consider how you can improve the process. Whether it’s catching a spelling mistake on an important document or suggesting a different format for a spreadsheet, you are putting in a noticeable effort.

 

Starting a new role can be daunting: balancing new responsibilities, navigating and networking with peers, and working toward your professional goals is a lot of work. It’s easy to focus solely on your achievements, but senior leadership looks beyond the resume.

 

To truly stand out, don't just complete the tasks assigned to you; bring your fresh perspective to improve processes, ask questions without hesitation, and actively contribute to the team’s culture. It’s time to step it up and show that you are ready to grow, learn, and make a meaningful impact!

 

Ready to make a great first impression with employers? Create your free profile on AgCareers.com to discover agriculture internships, entry-level positions, and career resources designed to help you launch a successful career in the industry.