I think we should hire people for any and all jobs using the following procedure:
1. Interview the last three people who served the candidate in a restaurant. Ask how the candidate treated them during the meal.
2. Interview the candidate. Ask the following questions:
- Explain the Bill of Rights to your best ability.
- Tell me about the last three books you read.
- Tell me about three of the most influential people in your lifetime, excluding family.
- Tell me about a goal or aspiration you haven’t achieved yet.
- Tell me something you changed your mind about in the last year.
- What are you unusually good at that has nothing to do with this job?
- What do you do differently from almost everyone you know?
- Tell me about a rule you broke because you thought the rule was wrong.
- What’s something you’re bad at that you’ve decided isn’t worth getting better at?
- Tell me about a time when everyone else thought something was fine and you didn’t.
- What have you made better simply because it annoyed you?
- Tell me something about yourself that I wouldn’t discover after working beside you for six months.
3. Ask the candidate to complete the following tasks:
- Give them five minutes alone in the workplace. Then ask: “What did you notice?” Don’t tell them beforehand that you’ll ask this question. You’re testing attention.
- Give them something unnecessarily complicated. Examples include a memo, procedure, email, slide, or set of instructions. Say: “Make this better.” But don’t define better. Their interpretation becomes part of the test.
- Give them a minor real problem you’re currently facing. “Here is something we’re trying to figure out. You have 15 minutes. What would you do?” You’re not really looking for the correct answer. You’re watching how they think.
- Have them interview you for ten minutes. Tell them: “Your job is to understand me well enough that you could explain me to someone else.” Then notice the quality of their questions, follow-ups, and listening.
- Give them a mundane object like a stapler, coffee mug, or Post-it note. “Convince me this object is interesting.” This will test curiosity, storytelling, creativity, and communication.
- Teach me something that you know well that you think others should know, too. You have 15 minutes to plan and 15 minutes to execute. You’re testing their ability to prepare, present, and work under pressure.
By the time you’ve completed these steps, you’ll know if you want this person on your team.
Unorthodox and impractical, but highly effective, I think.
