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May 20, 2026 By Barry Bright

The Hiring Metric I Never Skip

Hiring a new employee often feels risky.

Are they going to be the right fit for not just the role but also the company?

Not to mention the plethora of experts who all try to persuade you to hire based on the criteria they think are the most critical.

  • Growth mindset
  • Culture fit
  • Talent/skillset

I read an article* that reviewed academic research on the topic, and it solidified my thoughts on my hiring strategy.

The most powerful predictor of job performance is talent and skillset.

I measure this through work samples.

When I’m evaluating the talent of potential hires, I find that reviewing work samples is a critical step to grow my team of great marketers.

In fact, I only offer interviews to candidates with strong work samples.

I’m very pleased with the results that this important hiring benchmark has given me and my company.

Give potential hires the chance to impress you with their work. Hiding within it will be everything you need to know if they're a good fit.

*This was inspired by the article Should You Hire For Talent Or Mindset? The Data Will Surprise You by Rich Smith.

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