How Do You Hire?

2010 January 4
tags: , ,
by Grace Boyle

I read a recent interview in the New York Times with Qwest’s Chief Operating Officer, Teresa Taylor. Taylor answers questions that cover working as a mother and woman in power, keeping her work and personal life blended, how she runs meetings and her hiring tactics.

You can read the full interview here, but I was mostly touched by her approach to hiring: Taylor never hires someone without having a meal with them. Maybe it’s the Italian in me, but most conversations (serious or light) and learning were done over food. I think it’s an interesting approach (I agree with it) and one that is unique to her style.

articleinlineTaylor: “I never hire somebody without having a meal with them. I am absolutely convinced that that’s how you see what people are really like. You can tell by the way they order, you can tell by the way they treat the wait staff, you can tell by the way they drink too much or what they drink — you can pick up all these lifestyle things that you can’t get out of questioning them sitting in your office. Maybe they can’t make a decision on what to order, or they’re very snotty to the waitress. I absolutely have changed my mind on individuals after doing that.”

NY Times: And what questions do you ask?

Taylor: “Probably one of my strongest ones that gives me insight is, “If I called three people who have worked for you, how would they describe you?” That seems rather simple, but they usually end up telling a negative story along with two good ones. I don’t know why. It’s almost like they’re afraid you’re actually going to do it.”

I think this last question is pretty common and maybe the way they answer it would be more telling than their actual answer. A previous co-worker always asked in interviews, “If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?” He loved to ask people straight and catch them off guard. He told me later he looks for their reaction time and how they answer: do they think about it, aren’t sure, know right away, do they offer a word that would make them valuable in the company, etc.

You can learn a lot about someone, not just by the questions asked, but by their body language and reactions.

As a hirer or the one being hired, what do you look for? Do you use any special questions? Look for anything in particular?

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  • George
    I think these Business execs should realize that anybody can run a business. They aren't special, nor should be considered intelligent. Look at Taylor. If I was there for an interview, the fact that she is fat almost instantly kills the deal for me. I don't care what she says or thinks. If she can't take care of her body, she can't take care of her business. And her success is artifical in one way or another. Why would I want to work with/for her?

    If you want to look at real hiring practices, go look how some of the talened creative people in the movie business hire. Unlike Taylor, they don't ask questions that are the same as if you were getting hired at a big box store.
  • Hi George. You're entitled to your opinion but this isn't about wanting to work for Taylor, it has nothing to do with that in fact if you read the post. It's about a certain hiring style and reflects one woman's approach, which is similar to many others (as you can see from commenter experience).

    If you want to belittle my readers I will reserve the right to delete your comment. I'm all for debate and disagreeing, but not when you're making assumptions about people you don't know anything about.
  • chelseatalkssmack
    This is precisely why my boyfriend should stop scraping his teeth on his god. damn. fork. :)
  • @Chels For reals. But I'm sort of klutzy when I eat, like I spill mustard on myself. I guess I can be on my best behavior for meal interviews;)
  • Grace! I have just spent the last 20 minutes reading everything I have missed since Christmas on your blog. I am so glad I caught up! I really was captivated by this post because it's something I think a lot about once I am AT a job. Like, I wish there was that option to get to see the personal side of a boss figure too - what are they like at a meal?

    Great perspectives on a really interesting article - and happy new year!
  • @Beth Thank you! It is nice to interview the other person or the company as well. Company culture is important, especially in terms of growth for both parties. Thanks for sharing :)
  • I'll be honest, I feel like saying a hundred things but nothing is going to my tongue.

    The HR in me knows that this is a complete nightmare when looking at it from a legal stand point. Interviewing needs to be measurable, and it's hard to accurately measure someone's table manners, how they order food, and body language. All of those are usually just perceived by the interviewer and create the "gut" or "intuition" feeling. Hiring based off of gut or intuition is something i disagree heavily with.

    With smaller, privately held companies people can get away with this, but in big time corporate world, legally it's not safe to carry out hiring practices like this.

    With that said - I'm italian as well and I understand the importance of meal time conversations. I understand the lessons you can learn from someone by simply eating a meal together. I guess that is why first dates always tend to be dinner. You can surely learn a whole lot from someone in that situation, but I just don't see how it can be measurable.

    This was interesting. As always, great job Grace!
  • @Rich I was hoping you would weigh in with your background!

    Do you think there's one way to hire and being measurable is amongst the most important in the process? Or do you think there are different hiring styles?

    I'm curious because you have much more experience with this and it's your industry. I come from startups, small companies and myself and managers have hired people first by meeting for a drink, meal and then an interview. To follow up, I was hired site-on-spot by our COO, which started as an informal coffee date and turned into an offer letter.

    It's really an interesting take ... I'm curious to hear more thoughts :)
  • Hey Grace, sorry it took so long to get back to you on this.

    There are many styles and methodologies in interviewing, and most of them have a measurable component to them if done correctly. It gets more important with company size to not only make sure an interview is measurable, but to ensure that each candidate goes through the exact same process, or else the company and HR is at risk.

    This doesn't mean that big organizations don't meet candidates for a drink or a meal, but they won't admit it is part of their formal interview process.

    I have been on interviews where food was involved, it was the second interview for both situations and it was a fun way to meet the team. It can be a sticky situation, but most end up OK with no legal action taken against the employer.
  • Grace, I really like this mantra as well. Having a meal with someone is much less intimidating than a traditional interview, which can help you get a truer sense of what they're like as a person. I also think it's kind of hard to "fake it," as some people may try to do in a normal interview, as you're eating and talking. Really, a meal or drink is sort of the ultimate test of is this a person you'd actual enjoy having in your office? Would you want to have another meal with them?
  • @Jackie It seems we all do. It is more personable. Maybe it's our generation, too?

    It's interesting that we look for someone OUTSIDE of their work environment, to hire them to be in that work environment.
  • ambersosa
    I have personally been recruited/interviewed a couple times over dinner or a meal and I really enjoyed it. It made the interview questions I was being asked seem more like casual questions and I was a lot less nervous. I really felt a lot more comfortable and I feel like my real personality was better presented. Just found your sight and really love it. Can't wait to see what is to come.
    Amber Sosa
    http://ambersosa.wordpress.com/
  • @Amber Thanks for stopping by and sharing your story about interviewing over dinner. I'm glad you're enjoying what you see. Feel free to reach out and email me at anytime :)
  • This is reminiscent of the Chinese way of doing business known as Guanxi. It's not translatable to English, but essentially involves knowing your potential colleague, joint partner, etc. very socially and over a long period of time before talking business. Relationship building and emotional bonding.
  • @Ari Very interesting. I haven't heard of Guanxi before although it makes a lot of sense practically and also to develop trust within a business relationship. Thanks for stopping by and sharing this, Ari!
  • @Ari & Grace, I really like the idea of Guanxi. My husband and I had a conversation last night about how some people have "work wives" or coworkers who they always talk to and go out to lunch with, etc.

    Actually, Grace, after reading your response to my comment above it got me thinking about how important fitting in with the company culture is and maybe we should consider job hunting more like dating. I mean, sometimes we spend more time at work than we do with our friends and family...great thoughts!
  • @Laura We do spend more time with our co-workers than with friends and family. It makes a lot of sense. My current job culture has set the bar very high. We're friendly, we care about our lives outside of work, it's enjoyable, we have fun, work hard but also listen to each other. In fact, two of my best friends in Boulder are my co-workers, thanks to work.

    I think this is specific to our generation as well, because culture and work/life balance has totally blended. Our work environment is important. Great comparison with dating and working :)
  • Wow, taking them out to a meal is a really good idea. I'm always amazed to see people in situations like going out or shopping or anything like that. Even people that I really liked or thought were pretty good folks I have completely reassessed when seeing how they treat peple in service positions.

    You'd think everyone would be smart enough to be on best behavior in situations like that...alas (or maybe Yay!) they are not.
  • @Elisa You're so right. Especially traveling with someone can be very telling about who they are. It's interesting to see how someone might turn out when you put them in different environments. Thanks for sharing!
  • I totally agree that it's best to interview candidates in an environment that's less scary, like a coffee shop or over a meal. Though I've had some interviews over lunch and they've been quite scary! But a lot of it has to do with thinking, "Do I order the salad or the burger that sounds so much better?," or "Wow, I'm hungry and really want more bread." It's like freaking out before a first date--do you eat before the interview so you don't pig out?

    I never thought that interviewers where gauging how candidates interact with the wait staff, but it totally makes sense. I'm a big fan of having an interview over coffee. I find it takes some of the anxiety and pressure off and somehow still allows for the interviewer and candidate to connect. Thanks for sharing this article, Grace!
  • @Laura It is like a first date! I think the watching the way someone treats wait staff, people around you, friends, family can tell you so much. Obviously, in a job situation you don't always have that information so I think eating a meal is one of the best ways.
  • I would love to be interviewed over a meal. :) She sounds like she is one boss with a head on her shoulders.
  • @Jennifer I know! It's a great way to interact on many different levels.
  • I always recommend that people get used to doing business after-hours (or during meals) since that's when it's most likely to get done. I have a friend in HR that works for an employment agency who said the same thing, and wishes he could take every candidate for a drink at the bar across the street from him. I quoted him in one of my blogs... there's something about being in a non-work setting that brings out the real person. I met my current boss at a coffee shop during our negotiations prior to starting last year. I think this is common practice.
  • @Rebecca It makes a lot of sense. My current job was negotiated and created over an informal coffee date and then later, a chat in his office. Not a 'standard' interview. I love interacting with people over dinner or a drink, there's so much to learn and see in how they act!
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