Dear Leader #0015
Dear Leader,
Every interviewee is going to "resonate with your values". Make them prove it.
When I was still very green in conducting interviews, I remember being excited when people would tell me they read our core values on our website. They would say things like "those really resonated with me" or "those are the same values I live by". In my naiveté, I thought, "Wow, that's great! We're aligned.”
I quickly learned after I gained some more experience that EVERYONE likes to talk about values but very few people actually live them out.
I have no hacks to help you get a fast and clear view of this in the interview process. You can't cut corners when you're getting to know someone and deciding if they're a good fit for the team. This is why we do a minimum of 5 interviews with every person we hire. We give them lots of chances in different environments and with different people each time to prove they actually walk the walk.
It's a lengthy process, but a happy, hard-working, and drama-free culture that's packed with smiles, willing hearts, and people that want to serve doesn't happen by accident. Take your time.
