You Can Teach Skills. You Can’t Teach Heart.
By Angela Fitzgerald, Talent Acquisition Manager, Home Again Assisted Living
One of the questions I hear most often is, “What do you look for when you’re hiring caregivers?”
People are often surprised by my answer.
Of course, experience is valuable. We appreciate candidates who have worked in senior living, healthcare, or caregiving. But experience alone isn’t what makes someone exceptional.
The qualities we value most can’t be found on a résumé.
We look for kindness.
Patience.
Compassion.
A willingness to listen.
The ability to make someone feel seen and respected.
Those are the qualities that create extraordinary caregivers.
Technical skills can be taught. We invest heavily in training and ongoing education because we want every team member to continue growing throughout their career.
What is much harder to teach is the desire to genuinely care about another person.
That is where our hiring process begins.
When I meet someone for the first time, I’m interested in more than where they’ve worked.
I want to know why they chose this profession.
I want to hear how they talk about older adults.
I pay attention to whether they naturally speak with empathy and respect. Those small conversations often tell me much more than a list of previous jobs.
We also believe that hiring the right person is only the beginning.
Once someone joins Home Again, they become part of a team that is committed to learning and supporting one another. Through orientation, mentoring, ongoing education, and leadership support, we help our caregivers develop the confidence and knowledge needed to provide exceptional care.
Another thing that makes Home Again special is our culture.
People want to work where they feel valued.
When employees know they are supported by their leaders, respected by their coworkers, and appreciated for the work they do, they are more likely to build long, meaningful careers.
That consistency benefits our residents just as much as it benefits our employees.
Residents become comfortable seeing familiar faces every day. Families appreciate knowing the people caring for their loved one. Relationships grow stronger over time, and those relationships are often what make a community feel like home.
Every interview reminds me that caregiving is more than a job.
It is an opportunity to make someone else’s day a little brighter.
Sometimes that means helping someone get ready in the morning.
Sometimes it means sitting beside a resident who simply wants someone to talk with.
Sometimes it is holding a hand during a difficult moment or celebrating a birthday with a family.
Those moments matter.
That is why we work so hard to find people who not only have the ability to provide care, but also the heart to make every resident feel valued.
Because at the end of the day, our residents deserve more than qualified caregivers.
They deserve exceptional people.
About the Author
Angela Fitzgerald is the Talent Acquisition Manager for Home Again Assisted Living. Angela is responsible for recruiting and welcoming the compassionate individuals who make Home Again’s communities so special. She believes that exceptional care begins with exceptional people and is passionate about connecting purpose driven caregivers with meaningful careers where they can make a lasting difference in the lives of residents and their families.
