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This article is classic. The thing that strikes me most is the author's assertion that hiring should not be based on the classic indicators like talent and pro

This article is classic. The thing that strikes me most is the author's assertion that hiring should not be based on the classic indicators like talent and professionalism, but on some kind of subtle chemistry that a person either does or doesn't have as you perceive it. As he puts it, "Why work with a group of people who don’t even like each other?" Well, in the adult world, you hire mature, professional people who learn to work with each other and overcome their differences. It's fine if they aren't all buddies outside of work. In the startup "Real World" (a la MTV), you artificially craft a group of people who seem to "mesh" and then suffer the consequences later when the latent adolescent dynamics emerge. I remember interviewing at a certain prominent software agency. I won't say who they are, but will only say that you've probably heard of them. Things went great, as far as I could see. I represented myself as someone who was technically competent and could get the job done. Great, right? They ended up passing and not taking me on. It took me a long time to extract the reasons why, but eventually they revealed that it was because of a perceived "culture issue." Startup geeks don't seem to realize how frustrating an experience like this is. You go in, having done all your homework, having all the right experience, then you're turned down over something that you have absolutely no control. Something that is completely un-actionable and basically equates to saying "we just don't like you." This cannot and should not be the way that people conduct business in the tech world.

AndrewKemendo 12y ago
Well, in the adult world, you hire mature, professional people who learn to work with each other and overcome their differences. You just described a specific personality trait - that of someone who can moderate their desires in order to get along with the broader group. This is exactly the same reasoning that people are looking for with "culture fit" - they are looking for a very specific personality trait. This cannot and should not be the way that people conduct business in the tech world. Why? The tech world, like any other business place, is a mixture of people with different attitudes and personalities. If you clearly would have a personality clash with someone, why would it be worth hiring them?
- psaintla 12y ago
  > Why? The tech world, like any other business place, is a mixture of people with different attitudes and personalities. If you clearly would have a personality clash with someone, why would it be worth hiring them? Easy, because they have the knowledge and experience you need for the job. If you're a professional you'll find a way to work with anyone. Yes, you'll have personality clashes from time to time but I have yet to work at a place where that didn't happen.
  - AndrewKemendo 12y ago
    Easy, because they have the knowledge and experience you need for the job. Right but there are tons of people who have that - it's worth waiting for someone with both that and the cultural fit. As was mentioned in one of the lectures on "How to start a startup" Airbnb took 5 months to find their first hire for exactly this purpose.
    - zaccus 12y ago
      There might be tons of people with knowledge and experience, but they're not in your typical applicant pool. They tend to already have jobs.
    - psaintla 12y ago
      That is totally anecdotal, there is zero evidence that their emphasis on culture had anything to do with their success. Don't get caught up in cargo cults.
- zaccus 12y ago
  I don't think finding a way to get along with your coworkers despite personality differences is a specific personality trait. It's something any grown adult, or at least anyone worth hiring, should be able to do.

AndrewKemendo 12y ago

Well, in the adult world, you hire mature, professional people who learn to work with each other and overcome their differences. You just described a specific personality trait - that of someone who can moderate their desires in order to get along with the broader group. This is exactly the same reasoning that people are looking for with "culture fit" - they are looking for a very specific personality trait. This cannot and should not be the way that people conduct business in the tech world. Why? The tech world, like any other business place, is a mixture of people with different attitudes and personalities. If you clearly would have a personality clash with someone, why would it be worth hiring them?

psaintla 12y ago
> Why? The tech world, like any other business place, is a mixture of people with different attitudes and personalities. If you clearly would have a personality clash with someone, why would it be worth hiring them? Easy, because they have the knowledge and experience you need for the job. If you're a professional you'll find a way to work with anyone. Yes, you'll have personality clashes from time to time but I have yet to work at a place where that didn't happen.
- AndrewKemendo 12y ago
  Easy, because they have the knowledge and experience you need for the job. Right but there are tons of people who have that - it's worth waiting for someone with both that and the cultural fit. As was mentioned in one of the lectures on "How to start a startup" Airbnb took 5 months to find their first hire for exactly this purpose.
  - zaccus 12y ago
    There might be tons of people with knowledge and experience, but they're not in your typical applicant pool. They tend to already have jobs.
  - psaintla 12y ago
    That is totally anecdotal, there is zero evidence that their emphasis on culture had anything to do with their success. Don't get caught up in cargo cults.
zaccus 12y ago
I don't think finding a way to get along with your coworkers despite personality differences is a specific personality trait. It's something any grown adult, or at least anyone worth hiring, should be able to do.