I learned from an expert at Christie’s that there are several factors used to determine the value of a collectable like a vintage watch. These include condition, rarity, current desirability, and even an “X factor.” X factors include facts like famous owners.

One collectable Rolex was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars more just because Paul Newman owned it. Jack Nicholas’ signature gold Rolex is to be auctioned and it too will fetch extra dollars due to it’s X Factor.

Talent has X factors too. When evaluating talent don’t ignore the other skills that could be put to use in your organization. A hospitality background can indicate outside sales potential. An art background can be helpful even in a business analytics role. Seek to screen in and not just screen out based on arbitrary scales, assessments, and old criteria. The candidate in front of you may be worth more than you thought.