Ask HN: Would you hire someone whose very smart but annoying?

#1

Post by whenisayUH » Fri, Sep 02, 2011, 2:50 PM UTC

We've found a great candidate who is eager, smart, technically solid and scrappy. But he is definitely a bit annoying - loud, talks too much, etc. Not sure if feedback to him would change those things (they're hardwired/part of his personality) so we're going to assume that's part of the package?

The question is should the technical competencies and smarts outweigh the annoyingness?

Re: Ask HN: Would you hire someone whose very smart but annoying?

#2

Post by TMK » Fri, Sep 02, 2011, 3:03 PM UTC

Only problem I see is. Does he talk more than work?

Re: Ask HN: Would you hire someone whose very smart but annoying?

#3

Post by tobylane » Fri, Sep 02, 2011, 3:04 PM UTC

If you are sure he can be kept on task by whoever is in charge of him, and he won't affect others then I'd say something like you're on probation, please act gently and kindly.

Re: Ask HN: Would you hire someone whose very smart but annoying?

#4

Post by koopajah » Fri, Sep 02, 2011, 3:06 PM UTC

I've done my last internship in a small startup in Paris where the 3 developers did not get along at all. Everyone was eating separately, they were not speaking to each other during the day except to talk about the project specifically and it was really hard to integrate. The software was working and was pretty good but who knows where they would have been if they all had the same goals and shared a lot except just work. In most of the interviews of startup founders I've seen (especially in the book startups open sourced) it really seems that culture, getting along, etc. is really vital for most of the startups to succeed.

On the other hand, in bigger company, hiring someone really smart can be done even if he is annoying because he will be one in a hundred or more.

Re: Ask HN: Would you hire someone whose very smart but annoying?

#5

Post by kstenerud » Fri, Sep 02, 2011, 3:09 PM UTC

The most important question is: How will he affect office morale?

A hotshot employee is great and all, but if his personality problems negatively affect the rest of your crew, it's a net loss. Bad attitudes are infectious.

Re: Ask HN: Would you hire someone whose very smart but annoying?

#6

Post by peterwwillis » Fri, Sep 02, 2011, 3:10 PM UTC

Regardless of your decision, I would ask that you find a polite way to inform this candidate what you think of his personality. Even if you don't accept him it will help him learn to control his abrasiveness so he will have less difficulty trying to find work.

That said, if you're already having doubts it's probably not meant to be. If he were just working from home or something it wouldn't be much of an issue, but people who work together daily need to not hate each other =)

Re: Ask HN: Would you hire someone whose very smart but annoying?

#7

Post by JacobAldridge » Fri, Sep 02, 2011, 3:21 PM UTC

No. The suggestion I give all my clients is to first pass every potential recruit through a 'Family Photo Fit' - ie, will they fit in with the rest of your team. If not, then their skills, relationships, intelligence etc won't have a chance to be leveraged.

I think Branson has written about 'hiring for attitude, training for skills' which is along the same vein.

Annoying team members are bad. If you have a bad performer who is disruptive, it's bad for your business; if you have a good performer who is disruptive, it is many multiples worse as their behavious starts to become accepted by others who want to also perform at their level.

But definitely be open about the 'non-match' on your organisation's culture - there are possibly other businesses there where he would fit better, and at least it gives him a chance at become more aware of those hardwired elements.

Re: Ask HN: Would you hire someone whose very smart but annoying?

#8

Post by michaeldhopkins » Fri, Sep 02, 2011, 3:23 PM UTC

It depends whether your culture is passive or one with some teeth that will challenge this guy. If your culture is too weak to confront him, then don't let him in.

Re: Ask HN: Would you hire someone whose very smart but annoying?

#9

Post by ericwsbrooke » Fri, Sep 02, 2011, 3:32 PM UTC

No I would not hire them, if I was convinced it was hardwired. A bad fit in the case of your team, would mean your happiness and thus your productivity for the whole team would go down. Also in terms of culture, values and brand you could be sending a bad message to your team and anyone outside that has to work or interact with them.

I should declare an interest my startup (Professional You) is building a system to help you find your perfect boss, as our data shows that if you like your boss you are happier and more productive and if you trust them you are will take the occasional risk and thus be more innovative..

Re: Ask HN: Would you hire someone whose very smart but annoying?

#10

Post by buntar » Fri, Sep 02, 2011, 3:57 PM UTC

This is how would try to solve the dilemma:

- Can he really make a (qualitative) difference, or ships he just faster and a little more elegant?

- If yes, hire him and let him work wherever he wants but in your office (at home, an external office, ...). Communicate via email.

- if no I would'nt hire him simply because it takes energy to digest annoying behavior. So it will have a slight negative effect on my personal performance. It will be a zero sum game.