The Power of People, Potential, and Curiosity
When it comes to hiring, I’ve always appreciated structured processes like the ones following the STAR method. It’s a fantastic way to dive into a candidate's past experiences, how they’ve navigated challenges, and how they tell their story. It gives you a real sense of how they might behave in similar situations.
But here’s the thing: not everyone has a ready-made story to tell, and that doesn’t mean they aren’t great.
Skills are important, but fit is Everything
For me, hiring isn’t just about past achievements or polished storytelling. Sure, I want someone with the right skills—but what really matters is how well they fit with the team.
- I want someone who can collaborate.
- Someone who can challenge others.
- And, most importantly, someone who can trust the people around them.
I believe in building teams where people lift each other up and bring out the best in one another. That’s where the magic happens.
Going beyond stories: Seeing how they think
Here’s where I think we can go further: instead of just asking for stories, why not see how they think in real-time? I’ve found situational interviews to be incredibly revealing.
When you give someone a real-world scenario—like needing to review code that’s tough to maintain—you get to watch how they reason through the problem. You see their curiosity and attitude come alive, and for me, that’s the best indicator of potential.
The importance of interpersonal skills
At the end of the day, it’s the interpersonal skills that move us forward. They’re what help us grow, both as people and as professionals.
I’ve always prided myself on spotting talent not just by what they’ve done, but by how they think and how they want to grow. That curiosity, that hunger to learn—that’s what builds great teams and leads to innovation.
Beyond STAR
So, why not combine both methods? A structured approach like STAR gives us insight into their past, while situational interviews let us glimpse into their future.
I think of it as STAR 2.0—a way to not just fill a role, but to find someone you’re truly excited to work with and invest in.
And when you find that person, it’s not just about getting things done—it’s about creating something amazing together.