Author Description

The hiring pro cess, a romantic dinner, walking a tightrope-what do they all have in common? A rush job can produce disastrous results. Hiring after one interview-no probing, no references, no work-history review-is like hopping a red-eye to Vegas to get married after one date. It's impulsive and expensive, and the chances for long-term harmony are abysmal. The more time invested on the front end, the less likely the chance of getting bitten on the back end. Shortcuts are tempting, especially when a candidate's personality, resume, and references are intoxicating. The swoon is like puppy love, as if the person has been delivered by divine decree. Seat-of- the-pantsers typically put mediocre employees in charge of hiring. Big mistake. It takes a sharp person to recognize a fellow thoroughbred-and to be delighted, not intimidated, by their star power. Leverage the street smarts of some elite performers by placing them in the interviewer's chair.