Five Secret Questions To Ask Candidates in Interviews To Identify A-Level Talent With Steve Cadigan

Steve Cadigan is the Advisor and Talent Hacker at Cadigan Talent Ventures, a talent strategies advisory firm based in Silicon Valley. He’s also LinkedIn's inaugural Chief HR Officer and author of Workquake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working. A luminary in talent advisory, Steve is sought after by esteemed organizations like Google, Salesforce, the Royal Bank of Scotland, and the BBC. His expertise also benefits top-tier venture capital and consulting firms, including Sequoia and McKinsey.

Throughout his illustrious career, Steve has consistently excelled in team-building, shaping workplace culture, and transforming organizations into world-class performers. Acknowledged by publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine, Steve was named one of the Top 200 Global Thought Leaders in People and Talent in 2021. Recently, he transitioned to assisting new businesses and entrepreneurs in shaping workplace cultures and building teams to scale their enterprises.

In this episode…

In the competitive world of recruitment, discovering A-level talent demands a strategic approach. To facilitate more informed decisions in assembling a high-performing team, what are essential questions to ask to gather a deeper understanding of candidates?

Uncovering A-level talent necessitates a thoughtful approach. To build a high-performing team, former Chief HR Officer of LinkedIn Steve Cadigan advises defining the culture you aim to cultivate within your organization. Besides asking what sets you apart from industry giants, clarify why potential employees would choose your company. During the interview process, Steve says it’s vital to delve into the candidate's resumé to understand why they left previous roles and pinpoint their proudest achievements. Uncover their experiences with managers — both positive and negative — to gauge their expectations. Additionally, assess the environments where they've thrived or created. A critical aspect is the questions candidates pose, reflecting their engagement and understanding.

In this episode of the eComm Breakthrough Podcast, Josh Hadley interviews Steve Cadigan, Advisor and Talent Hacker at Cadigan Talent Ventures, about essential elements to shape your company culture and assemble teams to elevate your brand. Steve advises on how to build a strong company culture for success and scalability, how to attract and retain the right employees, and shares strategic hiring processes and interviewing techniques.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Josh Hadley on LinkedIn
• eComm Breakthrough Consulting
• eComm Breakthrough Podcast
• Email Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.com
• Hadley Designs
• Hadley Designs on Amazon
• Steve Cadigan on LinkedIn | Website | TikTok
• Workquake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working by Steve Cadigan

Special Mention(s):

• Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedIn
• Kevin King on LinkedIn
• Michael E. Gerber on LinkedIn
• The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber
• The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization by Peter M. Senge
• The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook: Strategies and Tools for Building a Learning Organization by Peter M. Senge
• Calm
• Shou Zi Chew on LinkedIn

Related Episode(s):

• “Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast
• “Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast
• “Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast