Hiring the best: How to staff your department right the first time

by Martin Yate

Updated to include the very latest information on the legal guidelines you must follow under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

How many managers have stalled their own careers by hiring the wrong person? Too many.

The most common mistake is believing that if a person can do the job, the person is a good hire. Actually, there are three broad areas that must be probed thoroughly to make the best decision.

* Is the candidate able to do the job?
* Is the candidate willing to do the job?
* And is the candidate going to be manageable?

In Hiring the Best, over 400 questions thoroughly probe these areas and give you the necessary material for the perfect choice. The updated fourth edition of this proven management tool also features an extensive review of the pros and cons of hiring temporary workers, part-time employees, consultants, and independent contractors.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Recruitment, Management, Historical Romance, Buisness, Reference

254 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1987

About the author

Martin Yate, CPC, also publishes as Martin John Yate.

Reviews

[GoldGato · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always nice to get another perspective on the process of hiring new employees, and I have found this book to be very helpful. I think the reason it ranks as my favourite interview book is due to the fact that it addresses the three points of hiring, which are:

1. Is the candidate able to do the job?
2. Is the candidate willing to do the job?
3. Is the candidate going to be manageable?

In an age where true references are not really available due to company restrictions on releasing data on employees, a hiring manager really has to figure it out because it is the hiring manager, and not Human Resources, who will be responsible for the outcome. There are many different types of scenarios provided here, along with questions that can be asked to pinpoint if a candidate will fit the role. Although I have done hundreds of interviews as a hiring manager, I always go back to this book for a review and a revamp.

Still, my favourite interview of all time was when HR called me to state that they had scheduled an interview with a 'high-quality' candidate. Great, I thought. At the interview, my first question was, "Can you explain why this position appeals to you and why you would be a good fit?" The response I received was, "Don't know, you tell me". And that's why one doesn't rely on HR.

Book Season = Year Round

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were helpful criteria to structure my thinking (both as someone interviewing people now and someone who will probably be interviewed again at this point in my career) as well as LOTS of examples of questions to ask. However, there weren't very many guidelines on how to winnow down the questions instead of asking every single one (there just isn't time for that!), and the structure was a little off, such that some information was redundant or belonged in an earlier and more general section. This book is worth it, however, as a way to get started creating a customized set of questions tailored to each job search, because there are so many examples and types listed here.

[Alexander Belugin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Очень понравилось - описывает всё от создания профиля до работы после найма. Её одной было бы достаточно. Пол-книги состоят из примеров, что также хорошо. Книга старая и в других отзывах пишут, что что-то там неактуально.

[Ashutosh SHUKLA · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quite an old book but sticks to the basics and gives you plenty of questions to ask the candidates whom you are interviewing.
Also helpful if you require some brush up for an upcoming interview.

[Beau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I read this book, 15 years ago, I thought I knew how to interview people. I was mistaken.

Mr Yate described a simple process of matching resume to job, and then planning the interview skeleton to clarify specific things. It changed my mind about this critical business practice.

If anyone ever gets hired again in this country, the person hiring should dust off this book first and prepare like a professional.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few days after being promoted into my first management position I needed to hire someone, and needed some guidance. This book gave me the basic information to conduct thorough interviews and a philosophy/structure to start the process. In the intervening years, it's also served as a way to prepare to be interviewed... when I can answer the questions in this book clearly I am much more prepared and comfortable sitting on the "other side of the table."

[Arseny Khakhalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book; very well written, and a great bank of interview questions, well structured and annotated. It's probably a good idea to flip through its pages before each job search, just to refresh possible questions in the mind.

[Josh Holtzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book on interviewing skills. Lots of insight for the in-experienced interviewer, and real world techniques I'm excited to try out.

[Mkrone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just okay. The other hiring books I've read are way better.

[Wayne Zill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great reference book for anyone doing interviewing or hiring in any size business. I highly recommend its practicality and simplicity to help in the interviewing and hiring processes.

[Hope Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical tips and good philosophical food for thought for both sides of the interview table.

[Pat Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A handbook on how to hire the best employees.

[Ana Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for managers who know very little about Human Resources and the recruitment process. Some guidelines in the book are a bit antiquated but overall great information.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

More useful for me but not as well written as the last one, still looking for what I need.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good Resource book for interview question, approach, etc