As Head of Recruiting at Philo, I’m lucky to work at a company where everyone strongly values the vital role that hiring plays in the organization. Our dedicated team puts a lot of thought into the why and how of our recruiting process, and over the years, we’ve discovered several characteristics that help interviewees and new hires stand out. So, we put together a list to help job seekers prepare and get into the right mindset for their upcoming interviews.
Here are five things that really stand out when we’re interviewing at Philo:
No ego
Egos have no place here at Philo. Philons are team players, through and through, and at this growing startup, you have to be flexible and ready to face any challenges thrown your way. New employees need to be communicative and willing to collaborate cross-functionally with other teams. We want to know that everyone we bring on board can put aside their egos and prioritize what’s best for the company. One of our core values is to always strive to do the right thing — for our team, our subscribers, our partners — and this value overrides all others.
Transparent communication and a sense of humility
At Philo, we believe that everyone deserves a seat at the table. That’s why we work hard to cultivate a diverse, inclusive workplace that welcomes people of all walks of life. We foster a community of open communication, where all ideas are welcome. Everyone should feel empowered to share their thoughts and suggestions, no matter what position or stage of their career they’re in—shared passion makes a team (another gem from our company values!). Philo also has a culture of transparency, where all Philons are encouraged to bring their tough questions to the executive team at our weekly “All Hands” meetings. We even encourage team members to connect in our various public Slack channels instead of private messages.
Self-awareness and an appetite for learning
Understanding your strengths is a great character trait, and having a solid sense of self is crucial for sustained growth. So, interviewees should be honest about their best skills and where they have room to improve. Change is necessary at a company like ours, so having a flexible mindset, embracing feedback, and being open to learning new skills can take you far. At Philo, employees are encouraged to seek new opportunities for growth and are given $5000 annually to invest in their professional development or educational assistance.
Enthusiasm for the role
When people interview with Philo, we want to know that they are excited about the job opportunity. Candidates should always take the time to research the company, its story, the teams, and the product/service. We highly recommend that our candidates try out our product for themselves, if they haven’t already, so they can share their own experiences and insights during the interview process. Our recruiting team gauges a candidate’s level of interest in the role based on how they speak about the company and the types of questions they ask. We value candidates who put forth the effort to understand our business, believe in our success, and are excited about the company’s future.
You’re in it for the long haul
There’s a reason why interviewers ask where candidates see themselves a handful of years from now. It helps us identify if the candidate is in it for the long haul and will be invested in helping the company grow. It can also shed light on an interviewee’s long-term career goals and potential growth opportunities within the organization. Generally, people who join the Philo team aim to stay and grow with us. They take pride in seeing the impact of their work over time.
By the way, if you feel like you possess these outstanding characteristics, and Philo sounds like the type of company you’d like to join, check out our careers page–we’re hiring!
Leave a Reply