MSMP 84: Mark Webster on Hiring Practices

What Does MSMP 84: Mark Webster on Hiring Practices Talk About?

In this episode of the Mads Singers Management Podcast, Mads and Mark Webster delve into the art and science of hiring. Mark shares his philosophy of only hiring 'A+ people' and emphasizes the high cost of bad hires, especially for small businesses. He discusses the importance of viewing recruitment as a funnel, where compelling job descriptions attract leads, and then systematically filtering candidates. The conversation also covers effective interview questions, such as asking how past bosses would rate the candidate and whether they are more interested in the job or the company. Mark and Mads explore the use of assessments like DISC and the significance of checking references, even if time is limited. They also touch on the value of personal development and how to gauge a candidate's fit through their responses.

We want A+ people or nobody.Mark Webster

Who Is Featured on MSMP 84: Mark Webster on Hiring Practices?

Mark Webster is the co-founder of Authority Hacker, a company that educates website owners on SEO. He previously ran a digital marketing agency with 30 team members and holds a portfolio of affiliate websites. Originally from Scotland, Mark has spent significant time in the US, giving him a mid-Atlantic accent. He brings a wealth of experience in hiring and team building from his entrepreneurial journey.

What Are the Key Takeaways From MSMP 84: Mark Webster on Hiring Practices?

• Bad hires are extremely costly, and small businesses cannot afford to delay firing a poor fit.
• View recruitment as a funnel: compelling job descriptions attract leads, and then systematically filter to find A+ candidates.
• Ask candidates how their last three bosses would rate them on a 1-10 scale, and actually check references.
• Gauge a candidate's dedication to personal development by asking about the books, podcasts, or YouTube channels they follow.
• Pay attention to how quickly a candidate answers questions like 'Do you work better alone or on a team?' to determine honesty.

How would your last three bosses/clients rate you on a 1-10 scale? We do check references.Mark Webster

Is MSMP 84: Mark Webster on Hiring Practices Worth Listening To?

This episode is a must-listen for any manager or business owner looking to improve their hiring process. Mark Webster provides actionable advice that can be implemented immediately, from reframing recruitment as a funnel to specific interview questions that reveal a candidate's true nature. The discussion is practical and grounded in real-world experience, making it highly valuable for startups and small businesses that cannot afford costly hiring mistakes. Mads and Mark's engaging conversation keeps the episode both informative and enjoyable.

Who Should Listen to MSMP 84: Mark Webster on Hiring Practices?

• Small business owners
• Startup founders
• HR professionals
• Team leaders and managers

What Are Listeners Saying About This Episode?

Hiring is one of my favorite topics to discuss, and my guest for today’s episode of the Mads Singers Management Podcast, Mark Webster, had so much good information to share about that topic.  Mark is Scottish but has spent enough time in the US that his accent is somewhere in the mid-Atlantic.  He currently runs Authority Hacker, which he co-founded in 2014.  Authority Hacker educates website owners about the ins and outs of SEO.  In a previous life, he ran a digital marketing agency with 30 team members.  He also holds a small portfolio of affiliate websites.

One of the first things Mark talked about was the importance of hiring superstars.  “We want A+ people or nobody,” he said.  I couldn’t agree more: the cost of a bad, or even a “not so good” hire is significant.  Mark agreed, noting that one of his big mistakes in the past was not firing a bad hire quickly enough.  He noted that in big companies they get a “performance improvement plan” and three warnings, etc. but those small businesses don’t have that kind of “luxury.”  A business can be significantly damaged while you drag your feet on what should be a simple decision: letting a bad fit leave the organization. 

Mark also shared some great tips to mentally frame the recruitment process.  Firstly, he thinks about recruitment as a funnel.  You want to get “leads” (applicants) and you can only do so by really compelling “copy” (job descriptions).  He then shared that 10 out of every 50 applicants are people he really wants to pursue.  He also gave his thoughts on various online assessments (I mentioned my love for DISC) and he also shared some questions he likes to ask:

• “How would your last three bosses/clients rate you on a 1-10 scale?  We do check references.” He says this even though they might not have time to check references.
• “Are you more interested in the job or the company?”  If they don’t mention the job at all in their answer Mark knows it’s not a good fit.
• “What sorts of books/podcasts/youtube channels do you read/listen to/follow?”  If it’s mostly trashy fiction, we know these aren’t people who are dedicated to personal development.

I loved hearing these, so I added one of my own, “Do you do better working on your own or on a team?”  I’m not so much interested in the answer than in the way the question is answered.  If the person answers right away, I know that is the true answer.  If they pause and answer more slowly, then I know they are telling me what I want to hear (or at least what they think I want to hear).

Mark and I talked for quite a while and could have gone on for even longer, but I wanted to be respectful of his time (and yours), so I had to wrap it up at some point.  If you’re interested in thinking through your hiring process more thoroughly, this episode is for you.

Key Learning Points:

1. Mads points out the costliness of a “not so good” hire - 4:54

2. Mark argues that you can outsource many things in a startup, but not HR - 6:41

3. Mark talks about a mistake regarding bad hires - 10:15

4. Mark shares his conception of recruiting as a “funnel” - 14:50

5. Mads talks about the concept of “recruitment as sales” - 24:11

6. Mark agrees and talks about “pre-selling” the company during a final interview - 24:40

7. Mads notes that the best hires love challenges - 25:25

8. Mark offers a framing question that helps him weed out candidates - 27:32

9. Mads adds on to that point, by noting the way that a particular question is answered gives a lot of information - 28:22

10. Mark adds some additional unusual questions that help him gain information about candidates - 33:45

11. Mads underlines the importance of having forums/opportunities to connect with staff - 45:41

Connect with Mark Webster

Authority Hacker Podcast