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

Interviewing and the Economic Value of Good Looks 165
about their performance. If you are willing to be this candid, candidates
are more likely to be open with you about their past failures
or shortcomings.
Put People at Ease in a Casual Setting
An executive I know recently interviewed for a new position. He
flew in for a series of weekend interviews with this company, and
his wife joined him to look at houses in the area. On Sunday morning,
the couple had breakfast with the senior vice president to
whom he would report—along with her husband, her three sons,
another company employee, and that employee’s spouse. This senior
executive was trying to impress this candidate and entice him
to take this new position. She was also seeing how he acted and
reacted in a social versus a professional setting.
For most people, looking good in business casual clothes actually
takes more thought and effort than looking good in a suit. In the
same way, it can be more work for people to create a favorable impression
in a social setting than in a professional one. Get people
out of your office or conference room and into a restaurant, company
party, or sports event. Observehowthecandidatesinteract
with everyone. When people get comfortable, their game faces
come off—and you get more insight into who they really are.
While these are laid-back events, you should have a game plan
for these situations. Have people on your team engage with candidates,
ask them questions, and become acquainted with them.
The person you get to know in this setting is the person you are
actually hiring.
A-Player Principle: Get job candidates out of your office
and into social settings. It’s hard for people to keep their
game face on and defenses up in these situations. This
helps you to get a better sense of the person you are hiring.