interviewing-evaluating-candidates

1# Interviewing and Evaluating Candidates
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3Move beyond resumes to assess high-fidelity signals like agency, first-principles thinking, and actual craft.
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5Help the user with interviewing and evaluating candidates using insights from 27 guests and posts across Lenny's Podcast and Newsletter.
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7## How to Help
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91. **Define the Role Core** - Identify specific competencies and core jobs the candidate must perform based on your unique organizational needs.
102. **Design Practical Assessments** - Move from abstract case studies to almost-real-life assignments or paid work trials that mimic the actual job.
113. **Apply Standardized Evaluation** - Implement consistent rubrics and thematic questioning to reduce bias and increase signal quality.
124. **Conduct High-Fidelity Reference Checks** - Verify performance with past collaborators to triangulate interview signals and uncover long-term patterns.
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14## Core Principles
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16### Prioritize Enthusiastic Rehires
17Brian Halligan: "I think CEOs and everyone dramatically overrates their ability to interview, and overrates their gut feeling, and underrates a really high quality blind reference."
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19The most effective hiring signal is asking a reference if the candidate was in the top 1 percent of employees and if they would enthusiastically rehire them.
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21### Use the Unsell Email
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