Comments on: This just might be the best question you can ask a job candidate

By: Phil Woodford

Phil Woodford — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:26:30 +0000

I think for a lot of jobs, the candidates just need to be able to walk in a straight line and cover up their tattoos. If they’ve mastered these basics, they’re in.

By: moira

moira — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:40:58 +0000

Can a person ever truly master something? Even Olympic athletes stumble and fall sometimes.

By: edwardboches

edwardboches — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:31:54 +0000

Ashley,
Good points. Also read Gladwell’s book and found it to be true. In my case, the most successful people I have ever hired were those who came from less than privileged backgrounds. The fact that that they had to “master” self-sufficiency and financial responsibility at a young age and learn that there was no one else to lean on except themselves somehow ignited their determination and propelled them to succeed.
Edward

By: Ashley (commqueen123)

Ashley (commqueen123) — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:34:38 +0000

Edward, interesting food for thought re. job candidates and mastery. Fits in some ways with the 10,000 intense hours of work in a field/subject matter that Malcolm Gladwell mentioned in his book Outliers as necessary for mastery. I have also noticed that everyone who has worked for me who was Phi Beta Kappa in college have been among my best staff, and I think that attaining Phi Beta Kappa reflects a certain mastery. It’s not merely being smart/having intelligence, but also mastery over how to get As in college–what it takes to get an A in a class under any situation and from any professor.

By: edwardboches

edwardboches — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:05:39 +0000

Patrick,
Good point. Can’t all be Olympic athletes, but as Cody points out, there are other things we can master.
Edward Boches

By: edwardboches

edwardboches — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:02:54 +0000

Cody,
Great answer. And if I got that from a candidate in an interview, I would start listening to him or her even more. You are right. Too few people (myself included) have mastered that one.
Thanks
Edward Boches

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:25:55 +0000

I really like this idea of mastery for interviewing an applicant. I suspect nothing in an olympic athlete’s life would have the same level of excitement but they would likely bring that drive for elite level excellence to any goal they established. On the other hand you can’t build an organization with nothing but superstars, so I’d like an athlete who made a division one team in any sport for example. I can see why Goldman Sachs would go for the Olympic athlete. They are basically a cuthroat dog eat dog business, so you want the fittest, period.

By: cody pomeray

cody pomeray — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:12:44 +0000

If asked in an interview “can you tell me something you’ve mastered in your life?”

I would respond “listening.”

Most people pretend to listen while actually thinking about what they’re going to say next. It’s amazing how much insight into people (or clients) you can gain just by really listening to them.

By: edwardboches

edwardboches — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:27:47 +0000

This is a more interesting dialog than I expected. Thanks. Lots of good points, but the mastery idea works for me. Having hired nearly 100 people in my career, I can tell you that just because someone’s curious or likes to learn, doesn’t assure he or she will accomplish what you hope they’ll accomplish, especially if it’s in a gig that doesn’t come with instructions. Being able to gauge one’s true determination and proven ability to achieve (master) something in light of challenges that might include a learning curve, time commitments and even sacrifice is a better indicator.

Edward Boches

By: James Windrow

James Windrow — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:15:10 +0000

I dont agree Dylan. I think it comes down to difference between a true master a self-proclaimed master.

A true master is someone that has proven themselves through accomplishments. An Olympic athlete is a great example. True masters are people that are driven, disciplined and hungry. They push themselves to consistently be better and strive to be “the best” always knowing its an impossible goal but still striving towards it just the same.

A self-proclaimed master is someone that has little to no accomplishments to show for their efforts. The internet is full of social media gurus and masters. People who are more interested in telling you about themselves than about their achievements. These folks are happy settling for the title and rarely push themselves to transcend into something greater. These are folks you want to avoid when hiring.

After assessing skill sets I like to ask the questions: How do you learn? What are you reading both online and offline? Give me an example of something you just recently learned.