Notes on hiring well

Short, practical articles for people who hire.

What "fitment" means, and why a CV misses most of it

A CV tells you where someone worked. It says little about whether they will do well in your role, on your team.

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Hiring when budgets are tight: fewer roles, higher stakes

When a company cuts its hiring plan from twenty roles to three, those three decisions matter far more.

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How to write a brief a recruiter can use

Most job descriptions are wish lists. A useful brief is shorter and answers five questions.

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Hiring your first SaaS sales or customer success person

Your first SaaS sales or customer success hire works without a playbook. Here is how to choose between the two roles and what to test.

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How to interview a software engineer when you are not an engineer

A founder or HR head can judge an engineer without reading code. Borrow a technical reviewer for the code and ask five questions yourself.

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Notice periods in India: planning a hire around 30, 60 or 90 days

A candidate in India may join one to three months after accepting. Plan backwards from your start date and stay in touch during the wait.

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Why technical hires fail in the first six months

Technical hires who fail early usually fail for one of four reasons. All four can be checked before the offer goes out.

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A simple interview scorecard to judge every candidate the same way

An interview scorecard is a one-page form that makes every interviewer rate every candidate on the same points. Here is how to build and use one.

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Hiring a SaaS product team: who to hire first

Product manager, engineer or implementation specialist: the right first hire for a SaaS product team depends on where work is stuck today.

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Counter-offers: what to do when your chosen candidate gets one

A counter-offer usually arrives during the notice period. Learn the candidate's real reason for leaving early, and respond the same day.

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