Interviews and conversations reveal a lot if you listen closely, especially when it comes to spotting motivated people, even if finding the right fit still takes time and luck.
Interviews and conversations tell you a lot when you are willing to really listen. Skill matters, experience matters, and fit matters, but motivation has its own unmistakable signal.
It is often not that hard to identify the motivated kinds. The way they talk about their work, the curiosity in their questions, and the energy behind their choices usually come through in discussion long before anything formal is concluded.
Of course, finding the right fit still takes time and a bit of luck. Good people exist in many forms, but matching the right person to the right role, team, and timing is always a more patient process than it first appears.