Hiring for key positions in your MiCA-licensed firm?

Let’s cut to the chase.

No matter the role: compliance, risk, operations, finance, ICT security, custody, there’s one trait your next hire must have above all else:

A D A P T A B I L I T Y.

Yet, I keep seeing firms overlook it. They don’t ask about it. They don’t test for it. They focus solely on technical skills.

After more than a decade of headhunting for fintech businesses, I can tell you this is one of the biggest blind spots in the hiring process.

And if you don’t want to take my word for it, trust your own instincts.

You already know that:

- The regulatory and business environment is in constant flux.
- You need people who can embrace change, pivot quickly, and tackle problems they’ve never seen before.

Technical competency is non-negotiable.

But without adaptability, here’s what usually happens:

1. Burnout

The relentless pace, constant change, and rising stressors wear people down. Productivity drops, sick leave increases, and disengagement sets in—sometimes ending in resignations, or worse, such as “quiet quitting” that drags entire teams down.

2. Regulatory Turning into Reputational Risk

Knowing the regulation is step one. Applying it is step two. Adapting to its constant evolution? That’s step three. Rigid professionals struggle here, leaving your systems clunky, your compliance fragile, and your reputation exposed to fines or customer distrust.

3. The Tug-of-War Team Dynamic

We’ve all worked with rigid colleagues. Collaboration becomes walking on eggshells. Ambitions are muted just to “keep the peace.” And everyone’s energy is wasted on managing conflict rather than driving progress.

So, how do you avoid this?

By making adaptability a deliberate part of your hiring process.

It won’t guarantee perfection—but it will significantly reduce risk, sharpen decision-making, and rule out obvious misfits.

Practical ways to do this include:

1. Adaptability psychometric testing
2. Behaviour-based interview questions
3. Situational-based interview questions

At a minimum, use the last two. Ideally, use all three.

And here’s a pro tip: adapt any off-the-shelf questions you find online ( endless free resources for you to find inspiration from ) to fit your company’s context, challenges, and culture. That’s when you’ll get meaningful insights.

Why does this matter even more for MiCA firms?

In any industry, adaptability is valuable.

But in a MiCA-licensed firm, it’s non-negotiable.

The regulatory ecosystem is fluid, complex, and high-stakes.

Without adaptable people in key positions, your business risks falling behind—or falling apart.

Article written by Fran Moisa, Headhunter & Talent Advisor at FM SEARCH LIMITED.  For more information visit www.fmsearch.eu

This is an informative, general article and does not constitute professional advice.