What I Look for When I Hire

I just started interviewing for another programming position today.  I knew this and have always been told that I don’t have your normal interview process.  I figured that I would throw out a few points to ponder after I sat through one of the best days of interviews I have had in 14 years.

  • You have to understand that the person you are interviewing is there to get offered a job.  They are selling you on themselves.  Don’t be an easy buyer.
  • I believe you should be trying to assess how the person will mesh with each member of your current team as much as you are going to try to assess a specific skill set.  **They can be the best.salesguy.ever but if the entire team will despise him he is not worthy to hire.
  • Always interview more than once.
  • Always have at least one other person interview the candidate.
  • Ask them uncomfortable questions, about situations or items that do not pertain to the job you are interviewing for or their resume.  This give you an idea of:  1. how quickly they think on their feet b/c they will not have a rehearsed answer.  2.  give you a gauge of how honest they are being as their body language will tell you a ton in an uncomfortable situation.
  • Ask follow up questions from the answers they give you to your initial questions.
  • Again, get a second opinion -always interview more than once and have more than one person interview them.

Comments on What I Look for When I Hire