Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Who Would You Hire?

Quite a few years ago, on a very busy day, my boss asked me, in the last minute, to go to a HR training meeting. She was supposed to go. Since she was busy, she asked me to represent her. Since I had a very busy schedule that day I told her I will not go to that meeting. But she insisted I had to go. So I had no other alternative. Corporate world is not a democracy.

The title of the training session was Hiring Techniques. The instructor started with this question to every one: If you have an opportunity to hire someone, who will you hire? Lots of similar answers. Hire someone with great qualifications. Hire someone with a lot of experience. Hire someone with great potential. Etc. Etc.

My turn came. I was already in kaduppu because of my boss. (Kaduppu is a Tamil slang for angry and frustrated but could not do anything about it.) I said I would hire someone if he/she is like me.

Unwittingly, I gave the instructor an opportunity to open up a long discussion and exchange of views. He turned around and asked me why would I hire someone if he/she is like me. I started to blurb out words like similar skills, similar work habits, and similar personality would make me comfortable with that person.

The whole group started to discuss pros and cons. Here are a few opinion voiced by others in that training session:

Hire someone who is experienced in an area where you lack the skills.

Hire someone like you and he/she can take over for you in your absence.

Hire someone with a positive attitude.

Hire someone that you like, that is not like you. (shades of Rajni Kanth?) HuhHUhHUhHaaaaa.

Hire someone that can make your team better.

Hire someone who has a different point of view.

Hire someone like you so he/she can fit into your team.

Dear Blogging Friends,

What do you think? Would you hire someone who is like you? If not, who would you hire?
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33 comments:

  1. Privy TriflesSeptember 26, 2012 at 10:55 AM

    Yes I would hire someone who is like me as matching of wave lengths is very important to make a successful team. Skill set and competency level comes secondary to it. Why would I match that person with me is because I want to ensure the same level of dedication to work as that is something I can never compromise on...

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  2. Who Posted This?September 26, 2012 at 10:56 AM

    No question about it for me.
    My hiring process is simple – does she have BB-BB-BL?
    If yes, then she’s hired.

    Regards,
    William Jefferson Clinton aka Bill
    BIG Booty, BIG Breasts, BIG Lips

    ReplyDelete
  3. Who Posted This?September 26, 2012 at 10:57 AM

    I’d hire someone from Google who will help turn my company around.
    Sheryl has done such a great job.
    Google’s stock is currently at $750 and rising…while Facebook shares are at $21 and dropping.

    Go Sheryl Sandberg!
    Yes…Go Sheryl.
    Go away. Go far, far away.

    Regards,
    Mark SUCKerberg

    ReplyDelete
  4. SGSeptember 26, 2012 at 11:25 AM

    Thanks for your commenrts Me. I agree with you. I would hire someone who is like me.

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  5. SGSeptember 26, 2012 at 11:26 AM

    Thanks for your comments Bill.

    Bubba, don't be bashful. Say what you honestly think.

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  6. SGSeptember 26, 2012 at 11:33 AM

    Thanks for your comments Mark.

    The curse of Winklevoss twins and Divya Narendra is going to haunt you for a long time.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Destination InfinitySeptember 26, 2012 at 12:07 PM

    One of the biggest qualifications for getting hired and lasting for a long time in a corporate company is someone who cannot do the job of their boss. Bosses are generally afraid of being 'replaced' forever!

    Destination Infinity

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  8. ekta khetanSeptember 26, 2012 at 12:25 PM

    Hmmm hmmmm Hmmmmm

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  9. AnonymousSeptember 26, 2012 at 12:51 PM

    Whenever I have had the opportunity to pick guys for my team, I go for complementary skill sets. It is no good if everyone is a great leader because at the end of the day not everyone CAN be a leader. Similarly, I don't like too many senior people in my team because it can make the dynamics very difficult to deal with. In short, if I have to hire someone they have to complement the skill sets of the existing people in my team.

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  10. AparnaSeptember 26, 2012 at 12:59 PM

    I am at a point wondering whether people will hire me? So no ideas when I figure why they hired me, I shall answer this.

    My sister would have better at answering this question considering it is her area of expertise... ;)

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  11. SGSeptember 26, 2012 at 2:02 PM

    Thanks for your comments Rajesh. So don't hire a Mr./Ms. Know It All.

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  12. SGSeptember 26, 2012 at 2:03 PM

    Thanks for your comments Ekta. I understand what you are trying to say.

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  13. SGSeptember 26, 2012 at 2:07 PM

    Thanks for your comments Swati. It is good to hire someone who can complement the skill set.

    When you mentioned "senior people", I hope you did not mean the age of the person. If that is the case, it could land you in trouble here. Of course, lot of people do it subtly.

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  14. SGSeptember 26, 2012 at 2:20 PM

    Thanks for your comments Aparna. This topic, at least, will help you prepare for your interview.

    I would appreciate if you send a link of this post to your sis.

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  15. AnonymousSeptember 26, 2012 at 11:52 PM

    No, I was meaning too many Senior Engineers. In software industry particularly where engineers are very opinionated (or at least in the companies I have worked for), if I put few of them in the room, the work shall never be done.

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  16. Ranita SinhaSeptember 27, 2012 at 12:58 AM

    I would never hire a person like me because all projects would be stopped the midway after both of us would have a mood swing after sometime..:D..

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  17. SGSeptember 27, 2012 at 8:15 AM

    Thanks for your clarifications Swati. I really appreciate your taking the time to write this.

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  18. SGSeptember 27, 2012 at 8:18 AM

    Thanks for your comments Ranita. I think you should be very careful when hiring someone to work for you.

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  19. chitraSeptember 27, 2012 at 8:52 AM

    I would hire a person like me who is highly committed to the work, who will treat the company as his/her own , who will treat the work place as his/her own

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  20. SGSeptember 27, 2012 at 9:49 AM

    Thanks for your comments Chitra. So you would hire someone like you. Cool.

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  21. RenuSeptember 27, 2012 at 10:19 PM

    I hire only domestic servants:) and I go for people with good manners and polite demenour...rest i cant compromise and teach too...

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  22. VJSeptember 28, 2012 at 2:15 AM

    Interesting question - I would hire someone if I thought they had good work ethic.

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  23. SGSeptember 28, 2012 at 8:52 AM

    Thanks for your comments Renu. Hiring technique is the same whether you hire a domestic servant or a office person.

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  24. SGSeptember 28, 2012 at 8:53 AM

    Thanks for your comments Veena. So you would hire someone like you. Good.

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  25. SandhyaSeptember 29, 2012 at 6:12 AM

    The person should be sincere in his work and hard working. He should be eager to learn his job. That's it!

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  26. Priya AroraSeptember 29, 2012 at 9:47 AM

    I would like to hire somebody i find passionate, open to new ideas,[like me B-) ]....Skill might be different from me as it will build a strong team.

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  27. SGSeptember 29, 2012 at 7:19 PM

    Thanks for your comments Sandhya. I like your hiring technique.

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  28. SGSeptember 29, 2012 at 7:21 PM

    Thanks for your comments Priyaa. So you will hire someone like you. OK, you are on my side.

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  29. Priya AroraSeptember 30, 2012 at 3:56 AM

    hehe.. as you take it :-)

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  30. raSeptember 30, 2012 at 7:28 AM

    i would hire someone who is honest and can take any challenge without having any fear of failures..you understand one who says 'try try till you die' .. the one with never dying spirit!

    very nice post SJ .. my first time here and definitely not the last!

    regards
    rahul

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  31. SGSeptember 30, 2012 at 10:44 AM

    Thanks Priyaa.

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  32. SGSeptember 30, 2012 at 10:46 AM

    Thanks for your comments Rahul. And, welcome to my blog. So, you will hire someone like you. That is great.

    Rahul, please visit here as often as possible. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  33. rudraprayagaOctober 7, 2012 at 7:05 AM

    A thoughtful question is thrown into the reader's mind.Since I believe in God,I'll hire Him to hire someone befitting me.

    ReplyDelete

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