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# Table Talk: What makes someone a compelling hire?
- URL: https://katecarruthers.com/table-talk-what-makes-someone-a-compelling-hire/
- Published: 2020-09-25T03:26:13.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-01T03:51:30.000Z
- Author: Kate Carruthers
- Tags: management & leadership, speaking, people, #Migrated-1775015344493, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-04-01 14:49

Yesterday I took part in a discussion at a Table Talk session for [Microsoft Ignite](https://myignite.microsoft.com/home?ref=katecarruthers.com) on what makes a compelling hire. My co-hosts were [Lars Klint](https://larsklint.com/?ref=katecarruthers.com), [Robert Crane](https://mvp.microsoft.com/en-us/PublicProfile/4038268?ref=katecarruthers.com), [Hamish Watson](https://mvp.microsoft.com/en-us/PublicProfile/5002648?ref=katecarruthers.com), [Janaka Rangama](https://mvp.microsoft.com/en-us/PublicProfile/5001311?fullName=Janaka%20Rangama&ref=katecarruthers.com) (thanks to Lars for the screenshot below). A huge thanks also to everyone who joined in and to my lovely co-hosts.

The chat was lively and some of the excellent answers and advice follow:

- Certifications help get you the interview, not the job
- Certifications are second to the value of the knowledge and skills that you can demonstrate
- There is an excellent YouTube series by Tim Warner (MVP) which is "just what the doctor ordered" for AZ 900.
- If you are looking to switch roles then start as a side gig. Get your own azure subscription and play with that. Write a blog and show off your skills. If you are a dev then get a [github](https://github.com/?ref=katecarruthers.com) account and demo your stuff there.
- One of the participants asked "I'm familiar with git, maybe I should add that to the resume, I assumed it was almost assumed" - never assume anything, always make it clear what skills you have
- If seeking to switch career roles then understand what the skills are that you need for the new position and find a way to use them in a real project (even a personal side project).
- As you progress in your career your skills should become a T-shaped - "the person with “T-shaped" skills has deep skills in a single domain as well, *but* also possesses breadth across multiple disciplines." (check out this post for an explanation of [T-shaped skills](https://www.caseinterview.com/t-shaped-skills?ref=katecarruthers.com))
- Suggested meetups and tech communities where you can connect with like-minded people. One question was how to network during Covid, [here is a podcast](https://katecarruthers6748.live-website.com/2020/08/06/interview-annalie-killian/?ref=katecarruthers.com) with some great ideas for how to do networking during Covid
- General recommendation to go to [Microsoft Learn](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/?ref=katecarruthers.com) \- there are fabulous training materials there
- late addition from a friend on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AndrewNebus/status/1309336485750099968?s=20&ref=katecarruthers.com) \- "Key words also important.  pain point might be Git or Azure DevOps or Splunk etc that recruiters are searching on."
- Follow the ongoing discussion [here](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/career-development/bd-p/CareerDevelopment?ref=katecarruthers.com)

![](https://katecarrutherscom.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/ingniyye-table-talk0.jpg?w=730)

**My thoughts on the matter**

For me ability to execute is key. A smart person can learn a new coding language relatively easily, but it is challenging to teach the ability to deliver and execute.

I always try to hire people who are smart and who get things done. I do not always hire for skills. For example, a smart person who already knows one programming language, can usually pick up another one pretty easily.

Another thing is certifications, they are just a guidepost, what I am really interested in is skills. So our team is always trying new ways that we can assess skills for new hires.