One Question
Musk: When I interview somebody, I really just ask them to tell me the story of their career. What are some of the tougher problems they dealt with? How they dealt with those? How they made decisions at key transition points?
Usually that's enough for me to get a very good gut feel about someone. What I'm really looking for is evidence of exceptional ability — that they faced really difficult problems and overcame them.
I ask them to tell me the story of their career. Usually that's enough to get a good gut feel.
The Liar Detection
Musk: You want to make sure — if there was some significant accomplishment, were they really responsible? Or was somebody else more responsible?
The person who's had to struggle with the problem, they really understand it. They don't forget. You can ask them very detailed questions and they'll know the answer. The person who was not truly responsible for that accomplishment will not know the details.
The person who struggled with the problem really understands it. They don't forget. The person who wasn't responsible will not know the details.
No Degree Required
Musk: There's no need even to have a college degree at all. Or even high school. If somebody graduated from a great university, that may be an indication that they will be capable of great things. But it's not necessarily the case.
Look at Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Steve Jobs — these guys didn't graduate from college. But if you had a chance to hire them, of course that would be a good idea. Just looking for evidence of exceptional ability. If there's a track record of exceptional achievement, then it's likely that will continue into the future.
Gates, Ellison, Jobs didn't graduate college. If you had a chance to hire them — of course that would be a good idea.