Interviewing candidate without some sort of metric often leaves things to your gut feel. Having been with the company for awhile, you know what will and what won’t work there in terms of team composition, culture, etc. But don’t forget to take note of these 6 tell-tale signs that the candidate sitting across you has potential.

1. The ability and effort put into being on time

If the candidate was, not just on time for the interview, but at the office at least 15 minutes before the agreed upon time, it shows that they plan ahead and make way for contingencies. Candidates like this have good firefighting skills and can be calm under pressure.

2. How they present themselves physically

While it seems superficial, a candidate’s personal appearance—makeup, hair, neatness of clothing—matters. If they are willing to look frumpy to a job interview, they might have the same outlook when it comes to client meetings or events. Effort put into appearance can signify good attention to detail and presentation.

3. Firmness of handshake

Not to say that weaker handshakes should be ruled out but the strength of a handshake does show the confidence level of the candidate. Feeble handshakes could mean nerves under pressure which doesn’t sit well with certain industries. Do note that the handshake isn’t everything though!

4. Quality of banter or small talk

In any good interview, there’s a minute or two of small talk before the interrogation starts. Listen to what the candidate says or asks as this shows preparation, level of intelligence, communication, and people skills. You want employees who can not only do the job but establish necessary human connections within your industry as well.

5. Ability to hold eye contact

Eye contact produces a subconscious connection and maintaining it more when listening than speaking makes for a productive atmosphere. If their eyes are staring you down or bouncing off the walls, take note. As a general rule, holding eye contact for 30-60% of the conversation is a good sign.

6. Level of a preparedness and research for the interview

If the candidate has swift, coherent answers to most of your questions, their habit of preparation could be an asset in the workplace. You can tell when their answers are swift and form complete thoughts that they’ve prepared in advance as opposed to hearing “uhms” and pausing more than once within a sentence.

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