Applying Atlassian-style recruiting best practice to your ordinary company. You may not be a Techcrunch-listed company, you may not be as big as Google or as sexy as Atlassian. But yes, even you can manage to recruit some great developers, as long as you do your homework and take hiring seriously. Really, really seriously. See the in-depth articles for this presentation at http://www.small-improvements.com/blog

1. Hiring great people
Learning from Atlassian
www.small-improvements.com

2. About us
360° Degree Peer Review Software
Continuous Performance Management
Agile, Simple and Intuitive
Free 10 user license
http://www.small-improvements.com

3. Why at this
conference?

4. Why at this
conference?
Challenges at Atlassian rarely about process

5. Why at this
conference?
Challenges at Atlassian rarely about process
It’s the B-Players.... Everywhere!

6. Why at this
conference?
Challenges at Atlassian rarely about process
It’s the B-Players.... Everywhere!
Spend way more effort on recruiting

7. Why at this
conference?
Challenges at Atlassian rarely about process
It’s the B-Players.... Everywhere!
Spend way more effort on recruiting
Get involved!

8. Why at this
conference?
Challenges at Atlassian rarely about process
It’s the B-Players.... Everywhere!
Spend way more effort on recruiting
Get involved!
Yes, you!

9. A riddle

10. Preparation
Fix things you should have fixed before

11. Preparation

12. Preparation
Have great working conditions to impress
applicant (without lying...)

13. Preparation
Have great working conditions to impress
applicant (without lying...)
Get rid of losers, now

14. Preparation
Have great working conditions to impress
applicant (without lying...)
Get rid of losers, now
Retrospectives & 1:1 meetings

15. Write a killer ad

16. Write a killer ad
16+ hours, across several days

17. Write a killer ad
16+ hours, across several days
Your most important document this year

18. Write a killer ad
16+ hours, across several days
Your most important document this year
“What if I had to present it to CEO?”

19. Get input!

20. Get input!
What do your top 20% staff like about work?

21. Get input!
What do your top 20% staff like about work?
“Would you apply if you saw this ad?” - “Er,
no...?” - “Then help me!”

22. Get input!
What do your top 20% staff like about work?
“Would you apply if you saw this ad?” - “Er,
no...?” - “Then help me!”
Get help from marketing

23. Get input!
Atlassian invented a perfect system for
discussing ads and getting feedback

24. Get input!
Atlassian invented a perfect system for
discussing ads and getting feedback
Confluence! :-)

25. Like a product ad

26. Like a product ad
Remove all clutter

27. Like a product ad
Remove all clutter
Do product ads list problems?

28. Like a product ad
Remove all clutter
Do product ads list problems?
List the great reasons to work here!

30. Die Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG ist ein
Hersteller von Automobilen mit Sitz in
Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen und eine 50,1-
prozentige Tochtergesellschaft der Porsche
Automobil Holding SE. Ursprung des
Unternehmens ist ein 1931 von Ferdinand
Porsche in Stuttgart gegründetes
Konstruktionsbüro. Das Unternehmen
besitzt Werke zur Pkw-Produktion in
Stuttgart und Leipzig. Miteigentümer der
• Exklusiv, aber teuer
Porsche AG ist seit Dezember 2009 mit
49,9 Prozent die Volkswagen AG.
• Schnittiges Design
• Teils dubiose Kunden
Porsche Engineering
Group GmbH
• Muss regelmässig betankt werden
Porschestraße
D-71287 Weissach • Reparaturen nicht ausgeschlossen
Telefon: +49 711 911-88888
Telefax: +49 711 911-88999 • Sehr schnell

31. Stuff to mention
Parental Leave? Cool tech? Parties and
Events? Learning on the job, lots of coaching?
Product influence? Great coworkers?
Competent managers? Great products?
Exciting clients? Lack of bureaucracy? Fast
pace? Ergonomic chairs? Nice office? etc etc
etc.

32. Too much for an ad?

33. Too much for an ad?
Ads must be compact

34. Too much for an ad?
Ads must be compact
But Mini-site can have more detail

35. Too much for an ad?
Ads must be compact
But Mini-site can have more detail
Working around weird HR regulations...

37. Advertising it

38. Advertising it
$10K referral bonus

39. Advertising it
$10K referral bonus
What would you do to look for jobs?

40. Advertising it
$10K referral bonus
What would you do to look for jobs?
Own the relevant keywords

42. Hiring is work!
Atlassian effort for a successful hire:

43. Hiring is work!
Atlassian effort for a successful hire:
• 8h-10h raw interview time

44. Hiring is work!
Atlassian effort for a successful hire:
• 8h-10h raw interview time
• 2-4h write-up, discussions, ref-checks

45. Hiring is work!
Atlassian effort for a successful hire:
• 8h-10h raw interview time
• 2-4h write-up, discussions, ref-checks
• Plus HR-Time

46. Hiring is work!
Atlassian effort for a successful hire:
• 8h-10h raw interview time
• 2-4h write-up, discussions, ref-checks
• Plus HR-Time
Plus all the time for unsuccessful applicants

47. Minimizing the impact

48. Minimizing the impact
Can’t save time on hires

49. Minimizing the impact
Can’t save time on hires
Save time on unsuccessful applicants!

51. Pre-Screening
Eliminate with minimal effort

52. Pre-Screening

53. Pre-Screening
Don’t read resumes

54. Pre-Screening
Don’t read resumes
Don’t check visa

55. Pre-Screening
Don’t read resumes
Don’t check visa
Don’t call

56. Pre-Screening
Don’t read resumes
Don’t check visa
Don’t call
Send simple tasks immediately!

57. Good Screening Tasks

58. Good Screening Tasks
Answer has many aspects

59. Good Screening Tasks
Answer has many aspects
Top applicant finds most

60. Good Screening Tasks
Answer has many aspects
Top applicant finds most
Weak applicant finds one or two

61. Good Screening Tasks
Answer has many aspects
Top applicant finds most
Weak applicant finds one or two
You see gap fast

62. Sample Dev tasks

63. Sample Dev tasks
“Write about trends in cloud computing“

64. Sample Dev tasks
“Write about trends in cloud computing“
“Watch a technical presentation online, and
summarize the key points”

65. Sample Dev tasks
“Write about trends in cloud computing“
“Watch a technical presentation online, and
summarize the key points”
“Write a simple algorithm and its tests”

66. Sample Dev tasks
“Write about trends in cloud computing“
“Watch a technical presentation online, and
summarize the key points”
“Write a simple algorithm and its tests”
“Review this ugly code.”

67. Sample Dev tasks
public static final Integer multiply(Integer x, Integer y) {
return (y == 0) ? 0 : multiply(x, y - 1) + x;
}

68. Results

69. Results
30% of the applicants never reply

70. Results
30% of the applicants never reply
50% of replies are clearly horrible

71. Results
30% of the applicants never reply
50% of replies are clearly horrible
Cheating? Irrelevant

72. Bonus

73. Bonus
Less discrimination

74. Bonus
Less discrimination
Less risk of lawsuits

76. Phone Screen
Because you’re too polite...

77. 20 minutes

78. Phone Screen

79. Phone Screen
Polite, minimal introduction

80. Phone Screen
Polite, minimal introduction
Standardized questions

81. Phone Screen
Polite, minimal introduction
Standardized questions
Nothing too difficult

82. Phone Screen
Polite, minimal introduction
Standardized questions
Nothing too difficult
Back to back in 30 minute slots

83. Sample topics: Java

84. Sample topics: Java
Garbage Collection

85. Sample topics: Java
Garbage Collection
Collections Framework

86. Sample topics: Java
Garbage Collection
Collections Framework
Synchronisation

87. Sample topics: Java
Garbage Collection
Collections Framework
Synchronisation
Exception Handling

88. Sample topics: Java
Garbage Collection
Collections Framework
Synchronisation
Exception Handling
Serialization

89. Sample topics: Java
Garbage Collection
Collections Framework
Synchronisation
Exception Handling
Serialization
Unit-Testing

90. Broad, not deep

91. Broad, not deep
Not looking for a great candidate

92. Broad, not deep
Not looking for a great candidate
Eliminating weak applicants, fast!

93. Broad, not deep
Not looking for a great candidate
Eliminating weak applicants, fast!
If in doubt, do invite the applicant

95. Coding Test
1st on-site interview
90 minutes, 1 interviewer

96. You want developers?

97. You want developers?
Then make sure the applicant can code!

98. You want developers?
Then make sure the applicant can code!
A single interviewer can run a coding test

99. You want developers?
Then make sure the applicant can code!
A single interviewer can run a coding test
First impression matters. Send people-person

100. Too Nerdy

101. Coding Test

102. Coding Test
Not specific to the position

103. Coding Test
Not specific to the position
Give time to grasp

104. Coding Test
Not specific to the position
Give time to grasp
Start with simple tasks

105. Sample tasks

106. Sample tasks
“Run the tests, find and fix the failure”

107. Sample tasks
“Run the tests, find and fix the failure”
“Add some pre-conditions”

108. Sample tasks
“Run the tests, find and fix the failure”
“Add some pre-conditions”
“Enhance the algorithm by feature X”

109. Sample tasks
“Run the tests, find and fix the failure”
“Add some pre-conditions”
“Enhance the algorithm by feature X”
“What about performance? Multithreading?”

110. Sample tasks
“Run the tests, find and fix the failure”
“Add some pre-conditions”
“Enhance the algorithm by feature X”
“What about performance? Multithreading?”
“How to test multithreaded program?”

111. Read between the lines
Things great developers say...

112. Read between the lines
“Can I also extract this code/ remove
this duplication?”
Things great developers say...

113. Read between the lines
“Can I also extract this code/ remove
this duplication?”
“If I had the time, I’d also change this
algorithm, like ... ”
Things great developers say...

114. Read between the lines
“Can I also extract this code/ remove
this duplication?”
“If I had the time, I’d also change this
algorithm, like ... ”
“Uh, this method is
entirely untested.
Shouldn’t we add some
tests?”
Things great developers say...

115. Read between the lines
“Can I also extract this code/ remove
this duplication?”
“If I had the time, I’d also change this
algorithm, like ... ”
“Uh, this method is
entirely untested.
Shouldn’t we add some “While we’re at it,
tests?” should I fix this other bug
here too?”
Things great developers say...

116. Read between the lines
“Can I also extract this code/ remove
this duplication?”
“If I had the time, I’d also change this
algorithm, like ... ”
“Uh, this method is <CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-N
entirely untested. keyboard-shortcut>
Shouldn’t we add some “While we’re at it,
tests?” should I fix this other bug
here too?”
Things great developers say...

117. Assessment

118. Assessment
Must be impressed by the technical skills

119. Assessment
Must be impressed by the technical skills
Must have enjoyed working with applicant

120. Assessment
Must be impressed by the technical skills
Must have enjoyed working with applicant
Discuss immediately. Take notes!

121. Assessment
Must be impressed by the technical skills
Must have enjoyed working with applicant
Discuss immediately. Take notes!
JIRA is perfect

123. Technical Interview
2nd on-site interview
90-120 minutes, 2 interviewers

124. Read that resume

125. Read that resume
Impress the applicant by knowing them

126. Read that resume
Impress the applicant by knowing them
... and what they claim to know

127. Push to the limit

128. Push to the limit
Two interviewers quiz the applicant on many
many topics

129. Push to the limit
Two interviewers quiz the applicant on many
many topics
Switch from weeding out losers...

130. Push to the limit
Two interviewers quiz the applicant on many
many topics
Switch from weeding out losers...
...to spotting great people!

131. Secret Handshake

132. Secret Handshake
45 minutes already ....
What a total failure.

133. Secret Handshake
45 minutes already ....
What a total failure.
“Great, that’s all the questions I had...”

134. Secret Handshake
45 minutes already ....
What a total failure.
“Great, that’s all the questions I had...”
Finally! Worst
applicant ever!!

135. Secret Handshake
45 minutes already ....
What a total failure.
“Great, that’s all the questions I had...”
Finally! Worst
applicant ever!!
“Yeah, me too! Done! Thanks
for coming in, Mr Applicant!”

136. Selling the job

137. Selling the job
Only at the end of interview!

138. Selling the job
Only at the end of interview!
Again, send best and charming interviewers

139. Selling the job
Only at the end of interview!
Again, send best and charming interviewers
Office tour! Talk about cool stuff you work
on!

141. Manager Interview
3rd and final on-site interview
60-90 minutes, 1-2 interviewers

142. Read that resume well

143. Read that resume well
Then do Topgrading “light”

144. Read that resume well
Then do Topgrading “light”
20 minutes about each career step

145. Read that resume well
Then do Topgrading “light”
20 minutes about each career step
Coworkers, bosses, reports

146. Read that resume well
Then do Topgrading “light”
20 minutes about each career step
Coworkers, bosses, reports
Self-awareness

147. Only <10% fail here

148. Only <10% fail here
“All my bosses were losers”.

149. Only <10% fail here
“All my bosses were losers”.
“This is just to get a foot in the door”

150. Only <10% fail here
“All my bosses were losers”.
“This is just to get a foot in the door”
“I did all the work, my coworkers were
idiots”

151. Only <10% fail here
“All my bosses were losers”.
“This is just to get a foot in the door”
“I did all the work, my coworkers were
idiots”
“We called the guy Mr Spastic”

152. This is for selling too

153. This is for selling too
Great applicants have many offers

154. This is for selling too
Great applicants have many offers
Your job offer is the best!

155. This is for selling too
Great applicants have many offers
Your job offer is the best!

156. Reference check

157. Reference check
“Summarize their key skills in 3 words”

158. Reference check
“Summarize their key skills in 3 words”
“Would he work well in our environment?”

159. Reference check
“Summarize their key skills in 3 words”
“Would he work well in our environment?”
“Would you rehire for challenging project?”

160. Reference check
“Summarize their key skills in 3 words”
“Would he work well in our environment?”
“Would you rehire for challenging project?”
“What would you tell him to improve on?”

162. Bits and pieces

163. Numbers
1,000
750
500
250
0
Pre Phone Code Tech Manager Hire

164. Get many opinions

165. Get many opinions
Team lead and HR could run it alone

166. Get many opinions
Team lead and HR could run it alone
More opinions help to find perfect fit

167. Get many opinions
Team lead and HR could run it alone
More opinions help to find perfect fit
Applicants meets more people == good

168. Get many opinions
Team lead and HR could run it alone
More opinions help to find perfect fit
Applicants meets more people == good
Regular workers involved == more happy

169. Get many opinions
Team lead and HR could run it alone
More opinions help to find perfect fit
Applicants meets more people == good
Regular workers involved == more happy
Interviewers should be from the hiring team

170. Speed

171. Speed
Screening questions sent on next day

172. Speed
Screening questions sent on next day
2 weeks between screening replies and final
interview

173. Speed
Screening questions sent on next day
2 weeks between screening replies and final
interview
Beat Google

174. It’s not over yet

175. It’s not over yet
Invite to parties/events even before start

176. It’s not over yet
Invite to parties/events even before start
Invite for lunch the week before starting

177. It’s not over yet
Invite to parties/events even before start
Invite for lunch the week before starting
Welcome-present: Chocolates, Company T-
Shirt, etc

178. It’s not over yet
Invite to parties/events even before start
Invite for lunch the week before starting
Welcome-present: Chocolates, Company T-
Shirt, etc
Take whole team for lunch on the first day

179. It’s not over yet
Invite to parties/events even before start
Invite for lunch the week before starting
Welcome-present: Chocolates, Company T-
Shirt, etc
Take whole team for lunch on the first day
Take for coffee, e.g. with new hire’s closest
two workmates

181. Summing it up
There’s little you can’t copy from Atlassian

182. You’re not as attractive?

183. You’re not as attractive?
Make attractive ad

184. You’re not as attractive?
Make attractive ad
Being tough is attractive too

185. You’re not as attractive?
Make attractive ad
Being tough is attractive too
Even I can send applicants my screening
questions and get answers

187. Bonus Slides
Confluence

188. Confluence 3.4

189. Confluence 3.4
Maintenance Release, out this week

190. Confluence 3.4
Maintenance Release, out this week
User Macros in Macro Browser

191. Confluence 3.4
Maintenance Release, out this week
User Macros in Macro Browser
Performance

192. Confluence 3.4
Maintenance Release, out this week
User Macros in Macro Browser
Performance
Keyboard Shortcuts

193. Confluence 4

194. Confluence 4
Shipping early next year

195. Confluence 4
Shipping early next year
XHTML -- Editor rewrite

196. Confluence 4
Shipping early next year
XHTML -- Editor rewrite
LDAP Nested Groups

197. Confluence 4
Shipping early next year
XHTML -- Editor rewrite
LDAP Nested Groups
Many small things, like Table Property Panel

198. Confluence 4
Shipping early next year
XHTML -- Editor rewrite
LDAP Nested Groups
Many small things, like Table Property Panel
Partner Release Branch this week

199. Thanks
Articles, Slides, Details:
www.small-improvements.com