Startups often hire the brightest talent they can find, expecting it to mean they will produce the greatest results, without checking for whether those hires are the best fit. What should you do to ensure a great fit? There are three areas you need to address: 1. Will they reinforce and add to your culture? 2. Will they really love the job? 3. Can they be successful at the job? By addressing these areas, you should be able to build an A+ team of hires that will play an integral role in your company’s success. These slides outline a compendium of recommended questions to help ensure a successful hire. For more information, visit http://www.mjskok.com/

1. Hi
Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
Harvard innovation lab
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
STARTUP
SECRETS
An insider’s guide to unfair competitive advantage
Hiring Questions &
Interview Tips for the Perfect FIT
MICHAEL J SKOK
North Bridge Venture Partners
twitter: @mjskok mjskok.com
1

2. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
Interviewing techniques
It’s a skill to develop like any other, but
needs to be personalized
2

3. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
3 steps
• 3 steps
1. Questioning
2. Listening
3. Observing
3

4. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
Cultural Quality (CQ) Questions
• What are you passionate about?
– What is the most fun you’ve ever had?
• (Intentionally open to understand work / life passions / balance
• What have you most enjoyed in your previous jobs?
• What do you love doing day-to-day?
– (What would an ideal day look like?)
• If you could have changed one thing at your
previous/current job, what would it be?
– (Also - listen for why the person didn’t change it)
• What is it you think you’ll enjoy most about this job?
4

5. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
Cultural Quality (CQ) Questions
Aspirations
• What do you aspire to in life?
– How are you pursuing them?
• What do you want or feel you need to learn?
– (To achieve those aspirations)
– (Listen for difference between want and need)
• What legacy do you hope to leave?
– (What do you hope to be remembered for ?)
5

6. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
Cultural Quality (CQ) Questions
Values
• What values do you believe in?
– How do you live those values?
• What do you value most?
• Personalize remaining questions for your values
– (e.g. What does Trust mean to you?)
6

7. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
Cultural Quality (CQ) Questions
Other
• What does balance mean to you in your life?
• What else do you love about you life?
– (Listen for consistency in outside interests with
answers regarding work ethics, style etc.)
7

8. Harvard innovation lab :
Hi
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
Cultural Quality (CQ) Questions
For Managers:
• What does management mean to you?
– (e.g. What is the role of management?)
• What environment do you like to create?
• How do you like to be treated?
– (Compare with answer to previous question)
•
•
•
•
•
Who comes first, your customer or your team?
Do you judge by effort or results?
What do you celebrate/reward?
What do you trust and what do you verify?
If you were hiring me for this job, what other questions
would you ask of me?
8

9. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
Emotional Quotient (EQ) Questions
• What do people think of you?
– How accurate is their perception?
• How do you feel you still need to develop personally?
(Look for self respect and yet self awareness)
• What work relationships are you most proud of and
why?
• What are examples of work interactions you are most
proud of and why?
• What have you learned from your best and worst
work relationships?
• What is it that you relate to in our company?
9

10. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
Emotional Quotient (EQ) Questions
For Managers
• How would people describe your management style?
– (Compare with the CQ manager answers)
• How do you like to be treated?
– (Consistent with how you treat others?)
10

11. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
Intelligence Quotient (IQ) Questions
NOTE: there are many sources of these and they need to be specific
to the job. Try to find practical instantiations and real world tests
• What is the most relevant Experience, Knowledge or Skill
(EKS) you bring to the job?
• How do you experiment?
• In your previous role(s), what did you learn, prove and act
on?
• What are examples of problems that arose and where did
they lead you?
• What is your favorite example of a problem you’ve
solved, and how did you solve it?
11

12. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
My final question:
What else should we know about you?
– You will be amazed at what comes out!
12

13. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
3 steps to discern 3 things…
• 3 steps
1. Questioning
2. Listening
3. Observing
Can you hear and separate what your
candidate
• needs ?
• wants ?
• loves ?
13

14. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
3 steps to discern 3 things…
• 3 steps
1. Questioning
2. Listening
3. Observing
•
•
•
•
•
Comfort
Poise
Presence
Thought
Engagement
Can you hear and separate what your
candidate
• needs ?
• wants ?
• loves ?
14

15. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
3 steps to discern 3 things…
• 3 steps
1. Questioning
2. Listening
3. Observing
Personally, I take careful notes
3 panes: Questions, Answers, Observations
Themes – I circle – eg “building”, leading”, “customer”
Can you hear and separate what your
candidate
Needs EG: get paid enough to feel secure, to learn
• needs ?
Wants EG: to be recognized, rewarded, achieve, get promoted
• wants ?
Love EG: to contribute, make a difference
• loves ?
15

16. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
My purely personal tips…
• Agree your agenda
– “Get to know you” first
• (You are looking for CQ, EQ)
– Then evaluate IQ
• Break down EKS
• Help the interviewee get comfortable and enable
them to be authentic
• If necessary take them for a walk or get out of the office
• Leave time to be questioned
– Learn from what is asked of you
16

17. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
Startup Secret: Find Mutual Fit
• FIT what the candidate needs, wants, loves
• To a position you have (or NOT!)
• Ask great questions and really listen and observe
– To really understand the candidate
– Find the fit
• Don’t sell if there’s not a fit
– Everyone loses when you hire and fire
• If you’ve got a mutual FIT
– The candidate will select you
– As much as you hire them
17

18. Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
Startup Secret
• Be patient
– Hire the right person…
• NOT
– The person right now
(It will cost you far more time and money in the end
than being patient and finding the right person who
really fits.)
18

19. Hi
Hi
Harvard innovation lab :
@innovationlab
Michael J Skok :
Startup Secrets :
Hiring
@mjskok
Harvard innovation lab
#startupsecrets
www.mjskok.com
STARTUP
SECRETS
An insider’s guide to unfair competitive advantage
Hiring Questions &
Interview Tips for the Perfect FIT
MICHAEL J SKOK
North Bridge Venture Partners
twitter: @mjskok mjskok.com
19