Bad managers hire skills, good ones hire talent

So often I see that to fill a position, a company is looking for, essentially, someone who has done precisely the same job in a similar company. The hiring manager would rather hire someone who is less talented, but can do the job adequately from Day 1, than someone who has to learn the job, but who will eventually perform it spectacularly. Sadly, the person hired will keep on doing the job adequately as the company or industry marches towards obsolescence. Companies need people who will challenge the accepted wisdom, can not only learn, but create new skills. Unfortunately, this happens rarely.

So when you write or read a job description, look for one which focuses on talent, not skills.