Who: The A Method for Hiring by Geoff Smart & Randy Street

Summary

'Who: The A Method for Hiring' by Geoff Smart and Randy Street presents a systematic approach to hiring top talent by breaking down the process into clear, actionable steps. The book introduces the 'A Method', which emphasizes defining clear outcomes, creating a scorecard, sourcing intelligently, and conducting structured interviews. It demonstrates how hiring mistakes can be costly and provides concrete strategies to avoid common pitfalls. Through real-life examples and templates, the authors show how leaders can build stronger teams and improve business performance.

Life-Changing Lessons

1. Hiring should be systematic, not intuitive—using structured methods reduces mis-hires and improves outcomes.

2. A well-defined scorecard clarifies what success looks like, ensuring candidates are judged objectively against clear criteria.

3. Effective sourcing and reference checks are crucial for finding high performers and validating their fit for the role.

Publishing year and rating

The book was published in: 2008

AI Rating (from 0 to 100): 88

Practical Examples

1. Creating a Scorecard

   The book illustrates how to create a scorecard for each position to formalize the attributes and outcomes needed, moving beyond vague job descriptions. This systematic tool helps keep interviews focused and assesses candidates on tangible objectives. Managers learn to separate must-have traits from nice-to-haves, making for better-fit hires.

2. Using the Four Interview Technique

   Smart and Street outline four distinct interviews (screening, Who, focused, and reference) for each candidate, elevating the hiring process from gut feelings to reliable data gathering. Each interview has a specific purpose, such as understanding career history or managing reference checks. This method reduces bias and builds a fuller picture of each candidate.

3. Sourcing High-Performers

   The authors encourage building a network and tapping employees for referrals rather than relying only on traditional job postings. They show how proactive sourcing uncovers passive candidates who may be the best performers but aren't actively searching for jobs. This approach expands the talent pool considerably and increases the odds of finding an 'A' player.

4. Avoiding the 'Voodoo Hiring' Methods

   The book warns against relying on intuition, quick judgments, or arbitrary interview questions, labeling these 'voodoo' hiring techniques. Instead, it advocates for data-driven decision-making. The authors provide tools and checklists to help interviewers avoid common traps and focus on evidence-based assessments.

5. Reference Checks

   Smart and Street emphasize structured reference interviews, offering scripts and guidance for extracting honest, useful insights. Rather than simply confirming employment and dates, they teach readers to probe for specifics about performance and behavior. This helps validate what candidates say in interviews and flags any red flags early.