Hiring
Should you hire for what people know, or for who they are?
Three people who run Montreal companies answer from their own hiring, in their own words.
Press play to hear each one answer the question. Each answer is under a minute; all three take about 2 minutes.
- 01
Howard Szalavetz
President, HS Properties
“Lots of things could be fixed, but the basic person can’t be. You want a good person. You want a person that cares.”
So much can be taught, Howard says. The basic personality of a person cannot.
What he looks for is a good person: one who cares, and is pleasant to deal with.
Watch the full interview with Howard → - 02
Jordan Perrin
President and co-founder, DuraClim
“Sometimes I did not listen to that voice, and I went with that: oh, the person has experience. … You always have that little voice. But you don’t listen because it makes sense business-wise.”
Jordan hires on a feeling he calls a sixth sense, and says it is right most of the time.
When he overrode it because a candidate had experience, six months was enough to show the feeling had been right.
Watch the full interview with Jordan → - 03
Ian Quint
Founder and President, Brasswater
“If they’re going to be dedicated to working and they’re going to want to learn from me and they’re showing the enthusiasm, to me that counts for much more.”
Whatever the job, Ian’s first question about a candidate is whether they will work hard.
Straight A’s count for less with him than dedication, enthusiasm and wanting to learn.
Watch the full interview with Ian →
Each clip comes from a full interview on The Vault MTL. The link under it opens the guest’s page, with the whole conversation.