Hiring Thesis Template
Purpose
Document your rationale for hiring a candidate. This creates accountability, guides onboarding, and builds institutional knowledge about what works.
When to Use
After deciding to extend an offer, before the offer is made. The hiring manager writes this document.
Template
Candidate Summary
- Name:
- Role:
- Interview Date(s):
- Decision: Hire / No Hire
The Thesis
State your core belief about this candidate in 1-2 sentences.
"I believe [candidate] will excel at [specific area] because [evidence from interviews]."
Strengths
What will this person be great at? Be specific about projects/workstreams.
1. 2. 3.
Growth Areas
Where will they need support or development?
1. 2.
Ceiling Assessment
What is this candidate's maximum potential impact? Is that acceptable for this role?
Kryptonite
What projects, people, or situations should this person avoid? What conditions would cause them to fail?
Scenarios
Best Case (12 months):
Worst Case (12 months):
Mitigation for worst case:
Advice for Their Manager
What should their manager watch for? Any specific guidance for helping this person succeed?
Interview Signal Summary
| Round | Interviewer | Signal | Key Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Screen | +/- | ||
| Technical | +/- | ||
| Learning & Reengineering | +/- | ||
| Decomposition | +/- | ||
| Hiring Manager | +/- |
Usage Notes
- Write this document even for "obvious" hires - it forces clarity
- Revisit at 6 and 12 months to calibrate your hiring judgment
- Share relevant sections with the candidate's manager during onboarding
- Keep these documents to build pattern recognition over time