After hiring over 1,000 people across four companies, I've learned that résumés and referrals only tell half the story. Here are three warning signs that consistently predict a bad hire:
1. They trash-talk past employers
If every previous boss was "toxic," every team "dysfunctional," and every founder "out of their depth," the problem isn't the bosses—it's them. Good hires can discuss difficult situations with grace and own their part. Bad hires blame everyone else. In two years, you'll be their next "toxic boss" story.
2. They can't name a real failure
When I ask about failure, beware of fake answers like "I work too hard" or "I'm a perfectionist." These candidates lack self-awareness. The best hires tell me about launches that flopped, missed quotas, or bad decisions they made. They explain what went wrong and what they'd do differently. Honesty about failure is the best predictor of someone's potential.
3. They show zero curiosity
I always end interviews with: "What questions do you have for me?" This is the most important part.
- No questions? Pass.
- Only asking about benefits or vacation? Pass.
- Purely transactional questions about compensation? Pass.
Great hires come prepared with 8-10 sharp questions about customers, product roadmaps, management style, and what failure looks like in the role. Curiosity predicts how far someone will rise.
Bonus: The receptionist test
I always ask our receptionist how the candidate treated them. Polite and warm? Good sign. Rude or dismissive? Pass—no matter how brilliant the interview was.
Résumés get you the interview. How you talk about your past, your failures, and your curiosity about the role determines whether you get the offer.