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Hire someone with experience and professionalism over someone who is more inexperienced but enthusiastic/ambitious. You need someone who you can absolutely tru

by Closi 5y ago

Hire someone with experience and professionalism over someone who is more inexperienced but enthusiastic/ambitious. You need someone who you can absolutely trust to do something and get it done, and someone that won’t complain that something is ‘beneath them’ when you are genuinely in a pinch and need some help (ie you want someone that is skilled enough at communications to talk to clients, good enough at numbers that they can help with invoicing, but that won’t turn their nose up if you ask them to run an errand - and in my experience, people earlier in their careers can find it difficult to span different jobs that they consider different ‘statuses’).

GianFabien 5y ago
For the most part I would agree with you. But at one startup, we hired an EA when she was 18. She won us over with her can-do attitude. A exceptional fast learner and would charm difficult clients and resolve problems without even having to be asked. To use sports metaphors: you want a PA who runs interference; skates to where the puck will be; dives to block shots at the goal.
- Closi 5y ago
  Agreed - with every tip there is an exception to the rule! I personally find it hard during interviews to seperate people earlier in their career into the "will be amazing" and "will be a trainwreck" buckets - it seems to be a dice roll when they actually start work. This might just be my interview skills though - and having my fingers burnt on a poor hiring decision on my behalf that fit into this bucket.
  - ethbr0 5y ago
    The best interview technique I've used (in addition to all the relevant skill/tech part) was "Tell me about a hobby you're into in your free time?" And then ask follow-up questions. I think it worked because (1) anybody can talk about their favorite hobby, (2) it relaxes people, as they're the expert, and (3) it demonstrates how much of a self-starter / -learner they are. The best hire I ever made was because the person worked on their motorcycle and explained the mechanic stuff they'd done during the interview. I was comparing the candidates afterwards in my head, and was hard pressed to imagine someone who worked on engines for fun in their free time, and wouldn't also be able to do this job. Hired that person, and they were amazing!

by Closi 5y ago

GianFabien 5y ago

For the most part I would agree with you. But at one startup, we hired an EA when she was 18. She won us over with her can-do attitude. A exceptional fast learner and would charm difficult clients and resolve problems without even having to be asked. To use sports metaphors: you want a PA who runs interference; skates to where the puck will be; dives to block shots at the goal.

Closi 5y ago
Agreed - with every tip there is an exception to the rule! I personally find it hard during interviews to seperate people earlier in their career into the "will be amazing" and "will be a trainwreck" buckets - it seems to be a dice roll when they actually start work. This might just be my interview skills though - and having my fingers burnt on a poor hiring decision on my behalf that fit into this bucket.
- ethbr0 5y ago
  The best interview technique I've used (in addition to all the relevant skill/tech part) was "Tell me about a hobby you're into in your free time?" And then ask follow-up questions. I think it worked because (1) anybody can talk about their favorite hobby, (2) it relaxes people, as they're the expert, and (3) it demonstrates how much of a self-starter / -learner they are. The best hire I ever made was because the person worked on their motorcycle and explained the mechanic stuff they'd done during the interview. I was comparing the candidates afterwards in my head, and was hard pressed to imagine someone who worked on engines for fun in their free time, and wouldn't also be able to do this job. Hired that person, and they were amazing!