What is an A-player?

In recruitment, we regularly mention the term”A-player“to designate profiles of candidates or employees of very high level. These performers, who are supposed to reach all goals, are a real subject of debate for recruiters, as it is difficult to define them.

Is it a new species of 5-legged sheep? A new recruiters' fantasy? Or the opposite of a typical profile with clearly identifiable elements?

In this article, we are going to dissect point by point the origins of this term, the common characteristics of these brilliant personalities and finally their impact on businesses.

1 - Origin of the term

It is difficult to trace the exact origins of this term, as there are so few books that characterize it.

What is certain is that As early as the 90s, Steve Jobs used this anglicism to support the importance of recruitment and more particularly the selection of high-potential candidates:”A-players attract A-players, B-players attract C-players“.

While this analogy does not facilitate our understanding, we understand that the idea of a hierarchy of profiles is not recent and that its theorization does not necessarily come from the world of research, but from that of business.

2 - What are the characteristics of an A-player?

By studying the question, we were able to identify common elements put forward by different actors and characterizing the concept of A-player.

2.1 - Strong intellectual abilities

Think carefully and quickly, that seems to be the adage of these exceptional profiles. In the end, the technical skills they possess are not essential, they are especially their adaptability And their learning ability that make a difference.

People with highly developed soft skills therefore seem to be the most likely to be A-player profiles. However, the assessment of these skills remains a complex exercise where the simulation seems to have better results...

2.2 - High intrinsic motivation

Although brilliant, some employees do not perform due to lack of motivation. This is a required data to take into account when looking to recruit these high-level profiles.

They should be placed in stimulating environments.

For some, these will be particularly competitive environments, for others, commitment and performance require a universe that promotes creativity.

There is therefore a projection to be made between the personality of the employee and the environment in which he will evolve.

2.3 - A good fit with your corporate culture

Although exceptional and motivated, these profiles will sometimes not flourish in your organization or upset the balance of your business.

As talented as they are, these people must be able to integrate, by suitability With the culture of your business.

Once again, it is a question of projection during recruitment, between your analysis of the candidate and his compatibility with the culture of your company.

3 - What are the advantages of an A-player?

3 advantages come up regularly when we talk about these great collaborators: productivity, attractiveness and performance.

3.1 - Productivity

The quality of these exceptional talents often results in great productivity. They deliver more than the others, they consistently meet and exceed expectations.

We generally expect from these people a strong capacity to work, with a ability to concentrate better than average.

La stress resistance is also regularly mentioned, it allows them to remain productive and efficient even in the most intense periods.

3.2 - Attractiveness

It may be the least obvious concept but it makes perfect sense (as Steve Jobs suggested): A-players attract A-players.

If your business is perceived to be composed of only top-level talent, it will naturally attract ambitious profiles, with the desire to progress.

You can also count on co-optation to take advantage of the network of your employees, which is generally aligned with their skills, to find other top talent potential.

3.3 - Performance

Finally, the enthusiasm generated by the concept of A-player is summarized in this performance theme, at all levels.

Because they are competent, because their involvement is high, because they are Blossoming in your organization, they Perform.

Even when performance is collective, when teams reach their goals, natural leadership will emerge for A-player profiles.

Depending on the profiles, you can let them manage with confidence and delegate part of your decision-making. The results will be achieved and the problems largely avoided.

Reveal your A-players with Yuzu

After several years of R&D with researchers in Psychology and Neuroscience, we imagined Yuzu : one New Generation Assessment Center, specialized in the assessment of soft skills (the famous soft skills).

With Yuzu, talents are immersed in scenarios developed with the latest technologies of the Video game.

The evaluations, on the other hand, are accessible to all profiles thanks to simplified orders and cloud technologies (all you need is a computer and an internet connection to be evaluated).

Reveal your A-players with Yuzu

The advantages of our solution:

• One candidate experience exceptional in order to boost your employer brand ;
• A solution accessible to all to ensure equal opportunities;
• A decision support tool for Reveal the A-players reduce cognitive biases

Whether it's for your recruitment process Or of internal mobility, we are transforming the assessment of Soft Skills In a moment Loud and playful.

In summary

Three elements emerge in this article:

First, so-called A-players have three characteristics in common: they have a intellectual potential higher than average, a desire to succeed high and their personality fits the culture corporate.

Second, their behavioral skills also called Soft Skills are essential. In this article, we talked about adaptability, stress management or even problem solving... All this testifies to the importance of having adaptable profiles that are not necessarily experts on a specific theme. But how do you assess soft skills? As this practice is particularly delicate, we have written a complete article related to this theme.

Finally, what stands out is that every A-player Depends on a context. It is a meeting between a competent person (or one with the necessary potential to become one), a favorable context and a common desire to work together.

To support you in your search for these high level profiles, The Yuzu Solution was designed to assist you in detecting the potential of your talents. Easy to set up, this SaaS solution promises to revolutionize your candidate and recruiter experience, thanks to gamification.