Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki is a great primer on how to start a business. I just finished Chapter 6 “The Art of Recruiting”. I have never been particularly good at the hiring process – but I have not done it in some time. This chapter has some fantastic insights on how to hire. I particularly like a section at the end on how to reference check. He suggests who to talk to, when to talk to them and what to ask. Some example questions:
- How would you rank the candidate against others in similar positions?
- What Contributions has he made to the organization?
- In what areas does he need improvement?
My personal difficulties around recruiting have been getting a sense of a person quickly in an interview. It is my impression that certain hiring managers are able to gather a quick intuitive understanding of someones character and work abilities – it has never been my strong suit. I remember a good friend of mine describing how his father, CEO of a major pharmaceutical company, could intuitively tell whether someone would be good at their job or not with just a handshake. One thing I learned to help compensate for my lack of intuitive skill in this area is finding individuals I trust to help in making the decision.