About Half of Shinola Jobs Are Filled Internally: The 6 Traits We Look For

At Shinola, we’ve been saying we want three things from our employees: be you, be heard, and be more.

We say this because Shinola only thrives when team members commit to bringing their authentic self to work, being willing to share ideas and challenge the entire company to get better every day.?

The past year has been challenging, but it’s offered all of us the opportunity to grow. Many Shinola employees have challenged themselves even as the pandemic challenged them, applying to our open positions even – in some cases – when that employee did not meet 100% of the job qualifications.?

?An overwhelming number of those applicants found new roles and new challenges – not necessarily because of a resume, but instead because of the values they demonstrated along the way.?44%?of our open positions in 2021 were filled by internal candidates. We consider that a major win for Shinola.

?We identified several attributes as important qualifications for those wanting to move up the ladder, and questions managers consider when interviewing for open roles:

• First, these employees tend to display joy through their passion for their current position & the position they are applying for. They connect with the mission & vision of our brand with optimism.
• Second, those who are successful at Shinola tend to display high levels of humility. The come to work every day with self-awareness?about their strengths and weaknesses; and are mindful of colleagues, customers, and the community around them -- seeking to understand as much as seeking to be understood. This is really exemplified by those most willing to ask for help and offer it in return.
• Next, this a highly determined group of employees who strive for excellence. Tenacity requires a self-starting, innovative mentality that manifests itself in a willingness to learn and continuously improve.
• ?Of course, Shinola’s promise to customers is founded on a commitment to?quality. Pioneers at Shinola have relentless attention to detail; take enormous pride in a job well-done; and are thorough in whatever they put their mind and hands to. Our products are great because we take no do not believe in short cuts.
• They are also?hospitable.?Respect and thoughtfulness are the cornerstones of long-lasting relationships, whether you are in the store, overseeing manufacturing, or creating new products. Working for Shinola is about identifying with a “we” mentality.
• ?Finally, Shinola is fueled by authenticity. This means brining your true self to work every day and not being afraid to speak from your perspective & challenge ideas. This also means being genuine in our approach and thoughtful about the outcomes.?

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