Why You Need to Interview Like Amazon Now! with Rick Girard of Stride Search Inc.

Answer: Linking Corporate Values into Your Interview Questions eliminates bias

I posed the question to a room of over 400 corporate executives and the results shocked me when I first asked it. Now when I ask the question, the results just make me …. Sad.

“Please raise your hand if you have had any formal interview training at any time in your career, other than what not to say in an interview”.  Three hands were raised. 3 out of over 400 people! 

And we wonder why hiring is “hard”. Guess what, It is not so hard for companies like Amazon who, from the beginning, have structured and trained their people HOW to effectively interview people. This is why they have always been a talent magnet, and not because they pay well. 

3 out of 400 people! This was a major a-ha moment for me and it should be one for you! 

Imagine the impact your company will have on this planet when you and your people get really good at hiring.

Today we discuss:

The importance of linking values to interviewing

How to set up and execute a values driven interview

Challenge today?

Talk about bias elimination 

cannot happen until interview questions are designed to extract evidence

The content of the interview cannot be left up to chance

The fate of each interviewee is determined in the first 15 minutes at most. Sometimes in the first 5 minutes….. All based on bias 

51% chance that your decision is wrong

Unchallenging, unimpressive interviews only attract people who are there for the paycheck

Talented people (A-players, change makers & high performers) do NOT want to work for yahoos! 

Informal, unstructured & unprepared interviews make you look like a yahoo.

Offer turn downs are at an all time high

Why is this important to the company?

One word: AMAZON

Leadership principles (company values) are what drives decision making 

Customer Obsession

Leaders start with the customer and work backwards. They work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Although leaders pay attention to competitors, they obsess over customers.

Hire and Develop the Best

Leaders raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion. They recognize exceptional talent, and willingly move them throughout the organization. Leaders develop leaders and take seriously their role in coaching others. We work on behalf of our people to invent mechanisms for development like Career Choice.

https://www.amazon.jobs/en/principles

Talent is drawn toward excellence

How do we implement values driven interviewing? 

Clearly write down your company values

Founders- this is you & your values 

As you ad people, reassess at least bi annual- especially before hiring ANYONE  

Develop Values

Clear definition of what the values means to the company

What attributes characterize each value

Measurables (how does a person live the value in their day to day life?

Sample exercise

Value #1 Dignity

Definition: Treating yourself and others with respect & courtesy

Attributes:

CEO

Co-founder

Dept Head

acceptance

Self-respect

self-confidence

Non judgemental

equality

Respect for others

Self esteem- elevation

decency

Stands tall

empowered

Treat as equals

Measurables:

*** Empowering others

*** Respect for others

*** Non-Judgemental

Build interview Question Library

Behavioral questions designed to bring evidence of how people “show up”

"Tell me about a time...." or “Describe a time when….” or “Outline a time where….” or  "Give me an example of..." 

Questions must be Indirect & not obvious to the interviewee 

Evidence to support Attributes 

Support / follow up question flow

Value #1 Dignity 

Attributes: 

*** Empowering others 

*** Respect for others 

*** Non-Judgmental 

Tell me about a time you helped elevate the performance of one of your teammates (Empowering Others) 

How did you learn of the issue? 

What were the events that led to this performance being important to you? 

How much time do you dedicate to the cause? 

How do you feel you could make more of a difference? 

What mak