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When Eric Schmidt talks about Google's early days, one of the most surprising things he highlights is the company's approach to hiring. Google didn't go for the safe, experienced candidates—the people with long resumes and traditional qualifications. In fact, Schmidt and his team often rejected those candidates, even if they had strong references or impressive past achievements. Instead, Google focused on something else entirely.
Photo: Michel Porro
Hiring for Potential, Not Experience
Rather than hiring based on past experience, Schmidt and his team prioritized innate ability, educational background, and how candidates interacted with others. The goal wasn’t to find people who had done similar jobs before but to hire those with the potential to adapt and thrive in Google's fast-paced, ever-changing environment. This approach helped create what Schmidt described as a "relatively crazy wide-eyed culture" at Google—a culture full of fresh perspectives and a deep hunger to solve new problems.
Trusting the Team to Solve Problems
Schmidt recalls a time when he was completely clueless about how to handle a competitor. Instead of feeling pressured to have all the answers himself, he realized that his job was simply to ask the right questions. He trusted the smart, creative people he had hired to come up with the solutions. It was this faith in the potential and adaptability of his team that helped propel Google forward.
Breaking the Mold with Executive Hires
This philosophy extended even to the executive level, where Schmidt consistently refused to hire the classic, conventional candidates. Instead, Google sought out people who didn’t necessarily fit the mold but had the unique abilities needed to drive innovation. By avoiding traditional hiring patterns, Schmidt and his team cultivated a work environment where creativity and intelligence thrived, and that played a crucial role in Google's rise to success.
In Schmidt’s view, hiring people who had the "gift" of potential was the key to building an organization capable of navigating new challenges and staying ahead in a competitive market.
Listen to Eric Schmidt:
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