Discover why resumes are seen as 'piles of lies' by 37signals, the significance of personalized cover letters, the involvement of co-founders in the hiring process, and the emphasis on cultural fit. Learn about evaluating candidates beyond work history, the role of gut feelings in selections, and the importance of teamwork over individual accomplishments.
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insights INSIGHT
Resumes vs. Cover Letters
Resumes often contain exaggerated claims and lack specific context.
Cover letters offer better insights into a candidate's personality and motivations.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Focus on the "Why"
Use cover letters to assess a candidate's personality, writing skills, and genuine interest.
Evaluate if they can articulate why they want to work for your company specifically.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Test Driving Candidates
Implement take-home tests to evaluate a candidate's practical skills.
Pay finalists for their time and effort on these tests.
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37signals is hiring! However, the traditional resume and formal education credentials don’t rank as high as you might think in their hiring process.
In this episode of The Rework Podcast, host Kimberly Rhodes chats with co-founders of 37signals, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson about reviewing potential job candidates. You’ll hear them discuss why a personalized cover letter can tell a lot more about a potential hire than chronological work history, and why AI isn’t always a dependable author for those details.
Key Takeaways:
00:45 - Resumes are basically piles of lies
02:27 - Cover letters should explain why you want the job
05:07 - Test driving final candidates
11:05 - Jason and David’s involvement in the hiring process
18:59 - Finding employees that are the right cultural fit
Rework is a production of 37signals. You can find show notes and transcripts on our website. Full video episodes are available on YouTube and X.
If you have a question for Jason or David about a better way to work and run your business, leave us a voicemail at 708-628-7850 or email rework@37signals.com, and we might answer it on a future episode.
REWORK 
