How to Hire A-Players: Finding the Top People for ... - GIT home page

164 How to Hire A-Players
observations as soon as possible after you complete an interview.
When you team interview, it’s usually pretty easy to take a few minutes
afterward to compare notes with your partner. Make sure to go
through this process with all the other interviewers as well. One
interviewer will almost always catch an important point that everyoneelsemissed.Takingthetimetoholdthissessionwillreduce
your chances of making hiring mistakes.
A-Player Principle: Take notes during an interview and
write down exact words and phrases that candidates use
to answer your questions. Use these notes during the
post-interview review to remind yourself of the candidate’s
strengths and weaknesses.
Avoid Hiring in Your Own Image
We tend to like people who remind us of ourselves. If you are hiring
your successor and you personally are a terrific fit for your
current role, then go ahead and hire your clone. However, most positions
require people with skill sets that are complementary, not
identical, to your own. When interviewing, focus on what the
job requires, not just on whether you feel a natural affinity for the
person.
Leverage Reference Checks
Brad Smart points out in his book Topgrading that when job candidates
know you are going to speak with their former supervisors
when you check their references, they have a greater incentive to be
truthful in an interview. 2 Tell candidates up front that you will call
all their past employers and want to speak with their direct supervisors.
Have them provide you with their names and contact information
and give you written permission to make these contacts. Ask
them directly what you are likely to hear from their past bosses