It’s officially summer—which means, along with the warmer weather and casual officewear, your business may also be sporting some fresh faces added to the team this season, as summer is traditionally a popular time to hire new employees.

But what are businesses looking for when they decide to hire interns or seasonal workers? Whether you’re the boss reviewing potential hires, the HR person working to coordinate and conduct interviews, or the potential candidate ready to gain a foothold in the corporate world, it’s important that you be on the lookout for an applicant who covers the following five bases.

1) Prepared and ready to go

First impressions are still everything! It can be easy to forget your résumé in the car or blame traffic for arriving late to the interview. But being prepared and ready at the interview is a sign that a potential employee will be prepared and ready in the workplace. Make a note to remind yourself to bring in your paperwork, leave for the interview early if you know traffic will be heavy, and polish yourself up as much you can before arriving.

2) Professional attire

Summer humidity can be outrageous, but looking professional during a job interview is still of utmost importance. Even if the company norm is casual dress, it still leaves a great impression to see a potential employee walk into the office with a nice suit on. If the weather is particularly scorching outside, a pencil skirt for the ladies and a short-sleeved button up for the gents is understandable.

3) Intelligent and willing to learn more

Every job advertisement lists the skill sets that most, if not all, applicants applying for the position should have. If a potential employee comes in for an interview and doesn’t have any idea how to do the required facets of the job, it's possible they skimmed the advertisement or didn't take the time to read the listing properly. Not everyone will know how to do every aspect of a role, so if you’re unfamiliar with one of the skill sets listed in a posting, alert your interviewer that you’re trained in the basics but are willing to learn more.

4) Good listener

It’s great when a potential employee has a lot to say about his or her accomplishments during the interview. This shows confidence in his or her ability to do the job you’re offering, and it also allows you to feel confident—impressed, even—with the work a candidate has done so far.

But many applicants fail to realize that listening is a big part of the interview process as well. Are they taking notes and really processing what you’re telling them? Are they actively asking thoughtful follow-up questions? If they’re doing a bit of both, they’re definitely an applicant to keep an eye on.

5) A good fit within your corporate culture

Does the applicant fit in with your office's overall vibe—or could she adjust quickly if needed? It can take a long time to build a strong, positive company culture, and you don’t want to ruin that by hiring someone who is negative or unwilling to contribute to your company's greater good. It’s also important for a new hire to get along with the rest of your teammates or, if he's nervous at first, to break the ice and feel comfortable working there in time. New employees are always going to be great for business; you just have to make sure they add to your company dynamic instead of diminishing it.

About the Author

Deborah Sweeney is the CEO of MyCorporation.com. MyCorporation is a leader in online legal filing services for entrepreneurs and businesses, providing start-up bundles that include corporation and LLC formation, registered agent, DBA, and trademark & copyright filing services. MyCorporation does all the work, making the business formation and maintenance quick and painless, so business owners can focus on what they do best. Follow her on Google+ and on Twitter @mycorporation.

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