Swiggy Food Marketplace CEO Rohit Kapoor recently highlighted the four essential qualities he seeks in candidates during the hiring process. Speaking on the Josh Talks Podcast, Kapoor emphasised that hiring is more of an art than a science. According to him, strong teams are built around people, not just checklists or bullet points.

“Hiring is more art than science. You can have all the checklists in the world, but at the end of the day, teams aren’t built on bullet points, they’re built on people,” Kapoor wrote while sharing the clip on Instagram.

“You can teach skills, but you can’t teach drive. You can hand someone an opportunity, but you can’t make them hungry for it. And in an interview, you can almost always tell in the first few minutes,” he added.

For Kapoor, building a high-performing team goes beyond just technical skills—it’s about finding individuals who bring resilience, drive, authenticity, and strong character to the table.

What are the qualities Swiggy CEO looks for in an ideal employee? 

  1. Resilience: Kapoor prioritises candidates who demonstrate resilience, especially in the face of adversity. He believes that the ability to handle personal or professional setbacks is a strong indicator of how someone will perform under pressure at work.
  2. Drive: A key trait Kapoor values is a candidate’s internal motivation. He looks for people who have a genuine drive to achieve, rather than just talking about big ideas. While skills can be taught, Kapoor insists that hunger and ambition must come from within.
  3. Authenticity: Kapoor stresses the importance of authenticity in interviews. He believes that within the first few minutes, it’s usually clear whether someone is being genuine or simply putting on an act.
  4. Character Over Competence: While competence is crucial, Kapoor emphasises that character plays an equally important role. He believes that great teams are built on a foundation of strong character, making it a critical factor in his hiring decisions.