Original text

In a recent article, I wrote about how Jeff Bezos used to hire managers at Amazon. The resume got them in the door but how they answered questions got them the job.

Resumes are Good to a Point…

Too many managers hire based on resumes. Resumes are good to only determine if prospects have the minimum requirements. It may have litany of accomplishments but those may not be what you need.

In today’s world more and more work is done by teams. It is really important to select team players. A resume typically highlights individual accomplishments over group or team achievements.

The WHOM Factor

Managers should hire for the WHOM factor in a prospect. It stands for...

• Prioritizes Work-ethic
• Heart
• Optimism
• Maturity

Frequently, it is more important to analyze and value behavior over experience. Managers need to really think about the precise job description. Would an indicator of behavior trump educational pedigree or experience? Most certainly. Many people with outstanding educations just cannot relate to a team or customer service focused job.

Another good practice is to analyze current successful employees to determine what about their behavior makes them effective. You want to hire for similar behaviors. Look for those who are solution oriented versus problem oriented.

Look past the resume to people with a high-performance DNA rather that the slogger who is so detail oriented that nothing gets done.  Look for the WHOM factor.

A SCORE mentor can provide guidance when it comes to helping you build a team that will lead to your company's success. Click here to schedule a free mentoring session.