One of the things I talk about is skill and will. Marla Malcolm, the CEO of Bluemercury adds one more: FIT.

What I love about her interview (see article here) is that she is the “queen of the seven minute interview.”  I too, believe in the 7 minute interview but was too embarrassed to admit it.  Skill you ascertain through the resume (what has the person done), and will is about how hungry they are. Fit is also hugely important: not everyone can fit.  You can be successful in one culture and an abject failure in another.

I interviewed someone I knew wasn’t a good fit. But my colleagues really liked him, and made me interview him twice. I didn’t like him any better the second time. But I caved in, and we hired him. We ended up having to terminate him 10 months later. Did he have the skill and will? I think so. But the fit wasn’t there.

So when you interview someone, or interview for yourself, remember the three things.