Book Notes: You’re Not the Person I Hired

Jeff Abbott

Updated August 26, 2025

By Janet Boydell, Barry Deutsch, and Brad Remillard

Notes by Jeff Abbot.

In the book, which I recommending every hiring manager should buy and use, they outline many elements that make for a successful hire.

Here are the top three, in my opinion:

• Use SOAR method to determine the work the person will do in a measureable way.
  • S – Sustainable department goal
  • O – Obstacles that will have to be overcome
  • A – What action is needed
  • R  – What results are expected

• Use the above SOAR process to develop 2 to 5 Critical Success Factors

Example:  Develop and implement within 6 months a vendor qualification program that would ensure zero defects and 100% on-time delivery of raw material.

• During the face-to-face interview, build rapport, make the job important, state two or three of the Critical Success Factors, and share your vision of the company two to three years from now.

5 Key Questions

• 1. Would you please give me an example of a situation in which you have demonstrated initiative?
  2. Would you please give me an example of when you executed a project flawlessly?
  3. Tell me about your most successful accomplishment leading a cross-functional team on a major project or initiative.
  4. One of the most Critical Success Factors is _______ (from your pre-work above).  Would you please describe your most comparable accomplishment?
  5. Can you walk me through how you would go about achieving _________  (Success Factor 2) in our environment?

With each answer, probe and drill deep for understanding of the role and                           contributions the person made.  Use the 5 W’s: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.

It’s been my experience that this WORKS for accomplishing one of the most important Critical Success Factor for all leaders … Hiring Great Talent!

Jeff Abbott

Jeff Abbott is a former president of Ducommun's AeroStructures Group and an executive coach with decades of leadership experience in aerospace manufacturing and team building. He has contributed to Amtec's blog on leadership and workforce topics.