Recruitment: The “Tryout” Process

“We have 40 members but only 5 do the work.” Sound familiar? You have a recruitment problem. You need a barrier to entry.

The Challenge

Don’t just ask “Do you like robots?” Everyone says yes. Give them a task.

• Mechanical: “Here is a pile of LEGOs. Build a gear reduction to lift this weight. You have 20 minutes.”
• Software: “Write a pseudo-code loop to make a robot drive in a square.”

The Interview

Ask culture questions.

• “Tell me about a time you had to work with someone you didn’t like.”
• “What do you do when you don’t know the answer?” (Correct answer: “I Google it”).

The Trial Period

Accept them as “Probationary Members” for 1 month. If they show up to every meeting, they are in. If they ghost you, they are out.

Conclusion

Quality > Quantity. A small team of killers beats a large team of ghosts.