My philosophy on hiring and something I have applied to every role I have ever hired is:
“An empty seat is better than a seat filled by the wrong person.”
With that said, you should:
Hire people who you would be happy reporting to (or working for)
Hire people who put their hands up for the gritty work
Hire people who finish when their work is done, not when the clock tells them
Hire people who say ‘we’ instead of ‘I’
Hire people who want to move the company forward instead of move within the company
Hire people who strive to move the company forward, rather than aim to move within the company
Hire people who are smarter than you
Hire people who come up with solutions, not problems
Hire people who are interested in their craft outside of work hours.
Hire people who don’t write long emails
Hire people who are positive
Hire people who set goals
Hire people who do the right thing, instead of take the easy option
Hire people who expect a lot from themselves and of their colleagues in turn
Hire people for strength, not lack of weakness
Hire people who get shit done and have a bias for action
Hire people who understand 'why’
Hire people who understand their worth comes from their output, not their title
Hire people who care.