Don’t hire anyone until you take them to lunch
Behavior at the table can reveal a lot about a person, such as decisiveness, interpersonal skills and common courtesy—or a complete lack of all three. It’s worth the cost of a Reuben.
(Editor’s note: This was one of the top viewed stories of 2015. We’re rerunning it as part of a look back at the articles that captivated our readers the most.)
“And I want the bacon extra crispy,” she snapped at the waiter over her shoulder without making eye contact with him.
I remember this breakfast very clearly, because it was at precisely that moment that I realized I couldn’t hire this person, even though she was qualified for the position.
I’ve hired more than 100 people to join various teams over the last 20 years. Though my track record is generally strong, it’s far from perfect. I now realize that a key indicator of any good candidate is going out to a restaurant with them.
There is so much you can learn during an hour of dining with someone; the type of diner someone is can subtly reveal what type of employee they might be.
Here are three things I pay close attention to when taking a candidate out for a meal before inking the final offer:
The way they interact with the restaurant staff
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