You’re looking for sprouts, and one of the best places to find them is fresh out of college.
So how do you find them?
Experience has taught me this: the conventional hiring process for new graduates doesn’t cut it if you’re not one of the big tech firms or a hot shit startup. Google, Facebook, and Apple can afford the conventional approach to finding their superstars because they have a line of candidates that stretch out the door and around the block.
So what if you don’t?
Toss the school name, GPA, and grueling theoretical interviews out the window. They won’t serve you, and that’s what everyone is looking at. You need to look differently. Don’t compete in that ocean. Find your own sea.
Here’s what truly matters: Will this sprout succeed with us?
Software development demands a mix of technical skill, initiative, productivity, and teamwork. Spotting potential in these areas is the game changer.
Ask them one question: “What are you presently working on?”
If the answer smells like, “Well, nothing, I’m still trying to get my first job,” then pass. Yours will not be their first job, no matter what their GPA and class standing is.
You need sprouts who are already working on something, regardless of pay because that shows initiative, creativity, focus, and self-reliance. They have curiosity and drive. They already care enough to do it.
So, look for the sprouts who are already working on something. They’re your future.
