What things are you looking for while hiring someone?

19 replies
Jeff Bezos said "I'd rather interview 50 people and not hire anyone than hire the wrong person."

Some of you have a vast experience when it comes to hiring people. What traits are you looking for in a new candidate? Does his/her experience override their character flaws? Or are you looking for things like humility, teachability, common sense?

Interested in hearing your feedback.
#hiring #things
  • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
    When I interview people I always ask them "What is 1 + 1?" If they answer "2" I don't hire them.


    Those that answer "Whatever you want it to be." always get hired.
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    • Profile picture of the author Orit Bak
      LOL love that
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  • Profile picture of the author myob
    The first question I ask job candidates in an initial screening interview is what was the last book they read. Usually the interview stops right there.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
      Originally Posted by myob View Post

      The first question I ask job candidates in an initial screening interview is what was the last book they read. Usually the interview stops right there.

      My answer "Selling Essentials" by Claude Whitacre.


      Now let's talk salary.
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      • Profile picture of the author myob
        Originally Posted by Jeffery View Post

        My answer "Selling Essentials" by Claude Whitacre.


        Now let's talk salary.
        I can already tell that you have not read this book. [End of interview]
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  • Profile picture of the author SofienParisien
    I will ask him about his last book that he red and what book he think everyone on our team should read?
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    Originally Posted by qwikaddotcom View Post

    Jeff Bezos said "I'd rather interview 50 people and not hire anyone than hire the wrong person."
    It would be simpler to just craft a better job ad.
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    • Profile picture of the author Orit Bak
      As well as by that time, he could have done the job himself. That's usually better anyways
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  • Profile picture of the author Medon
    I am more interested in character. Experience is gathered so humility, teach-ability and patience are the things to consider.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
      Originally Posted by Medon View Post

      I am more interested in character. Experience is gathered so humility, teach-ability and patience are the things to consider.

      The best of the last two people I hired:


      One was at an impromptu interview at Hooters. Best graphics designer I ever hired.


      The other was at a biker's bar. Best SEO guru I ever hired.


      In both cases we taught each other and when an employee has the ability to "teach" the employer and team.. they are GOLDEN.
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  • Profile picture of the author cheese1688
    I don't know how, but I just feel if the person is right for me and I should hire him.
    He could be the best of the best in a particular niche, but if you just don't feel it's the right person, you shouldn't hire.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
      Originally Posted by cheese1688 View Post

      I don't know how, but I just feel if the person is right for me and I should hire him.
      He could be the best of the best in a particular niche, but if you just don't feel it's the right person, you shouldn't hire.

      Reminds me of my weekend passes in Thailand (back in the day).
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  • Profile picture of the author CTServices
    Hiring new people is one of , if not the most, important thing that any business does. Poor selection can create issues for years to come.
    A candidate can have the greatest CV and references but if they don't have those intangible traits that lets them fit in then all the paper quailifications are worthless.
    So they need the 'skill' you are looking for but more importantly they need to be both teachable and have the ability to teach. And the personal traits which will enable them to fit in with both the people and the culture of the organization.
    Standard HR approaches don't always manage to do this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bjarne Eldhuset
    If hiring one-off for projects on places like Freelancer or Upwork, I like to post a small project first, with a very clear process description. If that goes well, I invite one or a few more to the next project.
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  • Profile picture of the author Idol
    I would check with at least few providers, compare their expertise with price demand.
    Ask them what they will deliver to me, what they have understood from my details and how the proposed would do.



    I usually hire programmers/developers from odesk/freelancer.
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  • Only if a task cannot be automated, then I'd outsource the task to a reputable company with multiple staff, incase I want to scale the tasks.

    I seldomly hire staff, these days. I employ services.
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  • Profile picture of the author luciesmazanska
    Guys sorry, but most of you are asking such a silly questions...
    I just ask simple questions, and even if they answer wrong I hire few of them, try them and if they do a HQ job I keep them lol
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    ★★★★★
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  • Profile picture of the author DABK
    Give them a task to do as part of the application.


    Used to ask appraisers to upload sample of their work... the upload function, though, did not allow for files as large as the most basic sample.


    First day, I got 12 applications. 10 did everything but, of course, failed to upload a sample. And they said nothing about it. 1 applied and informed me the upload button did not work and why. One did the same and added he'd looked up my office address and sent a sample via regular mail.


    Guess who piqued my curiosity?
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