u/PhoneIntelligent8641

I'm getting ready to hire again after about two years.

The last time, I didn't have much of a process. I liked the candidate, had a good feeling after the interview, so I hired him. It ended up working out, but looking back, I think I was more lucky than anything.

This time, I'd like to be a little more intentional, but I also don't have an HR team or the time to build a complicated hiring process.

I'm curious how other small business owners handle this without making hiring a full-time job.

About 18 months after I started the biz, I needed someone to take over content and a bit of operations.

She had a great portfolio and a reference, so I skipped the paid test project. Didn’t need the extra cost or hassle.

The first month went well enough. Then deadlines started slipping and I realized I was reviewing almost everything before it went out. By month four, I was doing a big chunk of the work myself.

What surprised me wasn't that it didn't work out, but how I kept convincing myself it would click.

Now I always have them do a paid task before making an offer. It's not perfect, but it gives me a much better idea of how they’ll do.

If your first hire went sideways, did it change how you hired the next time? Or did you treat it as a one-off mistake?

This was about two years ago. Sales role, mid-level.

The interview was impressive. Crisp answers. Great energy. Structure STAR responses to every behavioral question. He knew how to handle an interview.

90 days in, the cracks showed. The composure from the interview didn't show up when he was handling objections with real prospects. The structure fell apart under pressure. Results never came.

The interview tested his ability to interview. The job tested his ability to sell through rejection and uncertainly.

I've started thinking a lot more about the difference between those two things.

What's your version of this story?