I recently have been reading some interesting posts on hiring. I've seen people talk about hiring specifically for your project (so tailor the minutiae questions reflect your needs...) Seriouly some of the stuff I have seen suggested seems dumb to me.
All this has gotten me thinking about a time when Erik (the architect at one of my last jobs) and I (Dave Balzer may have been in on it too... I forget) were interviewing this guy, and we were desperate we had projects coming out our ears and not enough people to work. This guy comes in and he's brilliant... I mean that. He answers every question and he obviously know some things that none of us know... I'm falling all over myself... we need this guy.
Everyone agrees except Erik. You see Erik sees something that I didn't and Erik hired a little differently than I did as well. Erik looks at the person and says to himself "will this guy be a good fit for our team." Not is he brilliant enough to work here... not how good is he. Erik asks is he a good fit for the team... so in other words does the guy's personality work for our group.
Erik said no, and we outvoted him.
So you know who got to work with this guy... me. One of the things I missed is that the guys personality was a little grating. and he seriously clashed with... me. To say that we got along great would be an absolute and horrible lie. When the guy's name comes up today... I cringe. Because he was a bad guy? Nope, because (unfortunately) the Dev Theologian is human and sometimes there are some people that you will just have a hard time getting along with.
The guy seemed to have a know-it-all attitude which created some additional struggles. The guy was/is brilliant. Make no mistake. Would I hire him tomorrow? Depends on what I needed him for.
The bottom line is that I hire for what I need. You need a senior guy/gal to come mentor your junior guys/gals then make sure the guy will get along with your group (and then make sure s/he is technical). Need someone to work on a project? I'll always take the less technically adept person who fits in... Need someone to do rocket science? Hire someone who can do that, but try to find someone who can work with your team... it's all about your team.
Need an partially off-site consultant to come in and help you? Hire me! [sorry I got carried away there... just kidding... but I am available for work right now though].
Print | posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 10:33 AM