Ten Expert Tips for Smarter Hiring

Time invested in the hiring process can win your organization a top performer who ultimately helps it grow — or, just as easily, a poor fit who doesn’t stay long, leading to additional strains on resources. Employers today are, as ever, under pressure to fill open roles quickly, but the consequences of a poor choice can ripple through an organization for years.

Each hiring decision shapes not only who joins your team but also how your company defines itself — and as AI’s capabilities evolve at a rapid-fire pace, it can be tough to envision exactly what the job description of today’s new hire, let alone yours, might entail in the months and years ahead. No wonder hiring can seem like a gamble, even in an employer’s market. How do you spot real potential in a sea of polished resumes? How do you distinguish between someone who shines on paper and someone who will actually strengthen your team? And how do you make the right call when the stakes — time, money, culture, performance — are so high?

From attracting top talent by building a stronger employer brand to asking probing interview questions to weed out AI-generated responses, the ideas and insights gathered here from MIT SMR experts can make each step of the hiring process more focused, intentional, and effective.

1. Deliberate phrasing can elicit thoughtful responses to standard interview questions.
2. Determine candidates’ true capabilities with probing follow-ups.
3. Character can outweigh a candidate’s competencies.
4. Show that you have what the best candidates are looking for in their next opportunity.
5. Burnish your brand to attract top candidates.
6. A culture of worker autonomy will attract some candidates and discourage others.
7. Lateral moves can benefit both employees and their companies.
8. Out-of-the-box talent management software can limit the customization of talent strategies.
9. A shift to skills-based hiring begins with culture change.
10. Identify and deploy your most skilled interviewers to boost hiring success.