How Elon Musk Hires
Elon Musk famously said, “If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it.” Perhaps it is no surprise then that one of the most successful companies in the world, founded by one of the most innovative minds of our time, relies heavily on hiring the right people. Although it is often difficult to exactly replicate the hiring process that Elon Musk has set in place, understanding and incorporating different elements of the process can be beneficial to any company looking to match the success of Tesla and SpaceX.
Rather than merely focusing on the traditional skills and expertise associated with certain roles, the most important factor for Musk seems to be cultural fit. His basic recruiting mantra is to look for talented and passionate people who are genuinely interested and committed to advancing the mission of the company. When asked about hiring, Musk has famously stated, “other things being equal, a better fit is better for us than a slightly better candidate.”
To assess this, Musk puts a heavy emphasis on the interview process. This is not only about a candidate’s impressive credentials, but about evaluating who they are as a person, how they work in a team and how their values align with those of the company.
In order to give the interviewer the best insight during the interviews, Musk suggests going beyond simply asking technical questions. He acknowledges that by relying on technical assessments alone, a key element of the hiring process can easily be overlooked. He advises that interviewing style should involve a combination of competency-based and culture-based questions to get a full understanding of a prospective hire. It is during this interview process that the cultural fit evaluation takes place.
Furthermore, Musk stands firm to the notion of hiring the right person for the right job. He pursues this simple idea by ensuring any potential hire understands exactly what the job entails and its expectations before they are selected. This is to avoid any pitfalls that may arise from a lack of expectation clarity and communication. He explains further in his blog post for Tesla where he states that “it is important to consider past performance but it is more important to understand the candidacy from a more holistic viewpoint: are we going to make a good team?”
Networking
In Musk’s experience, the best talent often comes from the most unlikely places. He encourages anyone in the company to engage in networking and share the mission of Tesla and SpaceX in their conversations. Enabling the company to drive a well-rounded set of candidates and to expand their reach beyond the usual recruitment channels.
Furthermore, Musk also promotes the idea of hiring from within. He believes that introducing employees to new roles and opportunities is a key element in creating a strong culture within the organisation. He encourages managers to think outside the box in terms of job openings and has also sent out an internal message reminding them of this when looking to fill open positions. This helps to avoid any unnecessary training and as Musk suggests, promotes a sense of loyalty and secure atmosphere within the company.
Problem Solving & Collaboration
According to Musk, the ability to communicate, collaborate and solve complex problems is some of the key traits that he looks for in any potential hire. He encourages the usage of collaborative systems and effective tools during the recruitment process and positively looks towards those who demonstrate creative thinking. This could look like taking the initiative to deliver a presentation to their peers, working well as part of a team and coming up with innovative solutions to creative problems.
Additionally, Musk also looks out for candidates who can help write and influence the future of Tesla and SpaceX. He wishes to promote an environment that encourages employees to take the initiative, thrive off new ideas and practices and demonstrate a clear understanding of the company values.
Credibility
Finally, Musk also looks for qualities that display the credibility of a potential candidate. These include a good work ethic and a proven track record of success. He has highlighted many times that although someone may look great on paper, past performance is not a enough on its own. Only when this is combined with the previously mentioned traits, does a candidate stand a chance of being chosen for a role at Tesla or SpaceX.
Therefore, as you can tell, Musk looks for candidates who demonstrate more than simply traditional skills and technical experience. He values their perspective, ideas, emotional intelligence and problem solving abilities. He wants to find the right people that can not only fit in, but add to the vision and values of the company.
Adaptability
Musk looks for individuals who are able to adapt to the ever-changing needs of Tesla and Space X. These needs may change as the company evolves, technology advances and different opportunities are presented.
It is important for prospective hires to be able to switch between tasks quickly, demonstrate an aptitude for managing change and care about future changes as they may affect their daily work. Flexibility is key in this type of environment, as is the ability to think outside of the box when it comes to problem solving.
Musk believes that people should be able to hit the ground running and make an impact in the role as quickly as possible. As such, the understanding of how different elements of the business work together is an essential trait he looks for in new hires.
Self-Starter Attitudes
In order for employees to excel in their role, Musk believes that they must understand the company goals and strive to meet them. This means having the ability to take ownership of their role, initiate tasks without being instructed to do so and manage their time effectively.
He is keen to see a certain amount of ambition in any new hire. As such, they should have good communication skills and the confidence to speak their mind in creative and constructive ways. Passion and enthusiasm for the job should also be taken into consideration, as it contributes to the performance and long-term success of any prospective employee.
Global Mindset
Musk understands that Tesla and SpaceX operate in a global environment, which means potential hires should have the capability to think and act on a global level. This is often a difficult aspect for companies to manage, especially when reaching out to prospective hires from different cultures and backgrounds. It is therefore essential that any successful applicant must be able to understand, consider and collaborate with others from different cultures when it comes to their work.
To ensure this, Musk encourages interviews to be conducted at a global level to ensure that a diverse group of hires is considered for any available position. He believes that by doing so, it encourages high levels of creativity, communication and collaboration, which in turn leads to better ideas and solutions that reflect the organisation’s global reach.
Focused Objectives
Musk also has specific objectives when it comes to the hiring process at Tesla and SpaceX. The company looks to hire individuals who can quickly become effective, who understand the need for continual professional development to meet the changing needs of the company and are willing to take ownership of their tasks and take on new challenges.
In addition, he looks for people who can influence the future of the companies and demonstrate an understanding of the changing and dynamic world of technology. Furthermore, they must be able to adapt to and handle unknown circumstances while maintaining focus and motivation.
Continuous Learning
As technology quickly changes, it is important for employees to stay current with the latest trends and trends in their field. Musk encourages employees to continually learn and strive to stay ahead of the game.
This often means engaging in ongoing professional development activities, learning new skills and exploring innovative ideas. Employees should also be able to utilise the resources available to them, such as conference attendance, research and consulting, to stay current and competitive in their field.
Innovative Thinking
Tesla and SpaceX are constantly striving to be at the cutting edge of technology and are always on the lookout for innovative ideas. Therefore, Musk values employees who have the ability to think outside of the box and provide fresh and interesting solutions.
These individuals also need to remain proactive in their approach to problem solving and should take the initiative to bring innovative ideas to the table. They must also be able to advocate for their ideas in a constructive manner and remain open to constructive criticism and feedback.
Leadership Potential
Finally, Musk looks for prospective hires who have the leadership potential to become a successful manager. These individuals should demonstrate an understanding of the importance of working collaboratively and have the capability to make decisions quickly and accurately.
In addition, they must be able to develop and nurture relationships with their team and other colleagues as well as be able to effectively delegate, mentor and inspire those working under them. They also need to have the capacity to manage a diverse range of responsibilities, while still remaining diligent and focused in their tasks.
