In a recent interview with Quartz, an enterprise-focused online news outlet, Ben Horowitz, co-founder of the venture capital firm Anderssen Horowitz, gave insight into his approach to the hiring process.
In addition to his emphasis on particular specialized skills, Horowitz also highlighted one interesting aspect of considering new hires: Thinking about their current financial status and what that bodes for their job performance.
The way he puts it, someone who is "hungry" and dependent on the security of a position is more likely to work harder and demonstrate more value.
"I had a terrible time hiring rich people," Horowitz told the source. "It sounds funny but the problem is when things go wrong they can ask, 'Why am I doing this?' You don't ever want anybody asking that question. You want them to say, 'I know why I'm doing it, I need the money, let's go' or whatever it is that draws them."
This can be trickier criteria to use when filling executive-level positions, since these candidates may already be starting from a place of success. But it's advice worth considering for those embarking on executive recruitment, since too much security might indeed lead to feelings of complacency in a CEO.
Micah Solomon, a contributor at Forbes, wrote in a recent column that employers can generate "hunger" in employees with a few simple rules, including having clear organizational goals, allowing successful employees the freedom needed to flourish, implementing a stellar training program and hiring the right people.
Ultimately, your board and your company might benefit from locating a CEO with the right "hunger" to succeed within your business. An executive recruiter might be able to help you out in this way.
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