Check the academic background, teaching and research experience of candidates. Look for academic honors such as making the Dean's List. Look at the number of years a person has taught a particular course or been associated with a field of research. Make a note of the institutions where they gained this experience. This will give you an idea of the level of exposure the candidate has with equipment, instruments and systems involved in education and research.
Look for expertise in the specific areas covered by your university's doctoral program. Study candidate resumes for mention of publications in national and international journals, paper presentations at national and international conferences and authorship of subject specific textbooks. Don't get carried away by numbers; check if the skill a candidate demonstrates is commensurate with the research direction of your department.
Read the recommendation letters candidates submit with an eye on reports of excellence. This is especially important when you have candidates with similar research topics and academic backgrounds. If a leading subject expert writes to say a candidate is one of the best scholars on world economics, take a closer look. Make note of how the letter presents a candidate's moral and ethical behavior, too.
Look out for candidates who have a wide professional circle. Faculty with ties to leading government, private or nonprofit organizations will be valuable in arranging fellowships, internships and perhaps even employment for your doctoral students.
Assess the candidate's preparedness for the transition to an academic professional. Ask candidates to give a presentation on their area of research. Use this opportunity to assess not just the research skills, but also the communication and interpersonal skills of the candidate. Observe the ability to express knowledge of the subject, clarify concepts and answer questions with patience; these are qualities that will benefit doctoral students during research.