Transcription
Finding employees with street smarts Okay, I'm seeing some rave sunglasses here.
This question's a bit scary, to be honest.So, "Why is having street smarts more important than having degrees?" I really like this question, because honestly, at Código Nuevo,when we're interviewing people,we value so much more that the interviewee is sharp and resourceful than their CV.
It's something we really don't care about, it's great if people have a strong professional record and the agencies they've worked for,but ultimately we always say we've got this instinct to spot whether they'll fit in.
It's really so important, and we do tons of interviews at Código to make sure that if someone new joins, they'll feel integrated and us with them.
So it's true that the number one key thing is that they have a producers soul.
Honestly, when looking through CVs, we love people who've made drastic career changes without fear,because that means having the courage of being like:"Hey, this isn't for me.
I want to steer my life in another direction and maybe be happier." I have to say, at Código Nuevo we're lucky that many of us also teach in creativity schools, and I must say it's great when it comes to recruiting people for the team,because it's like, hey, we're not just an outlet aimed at Gen Z and millennials, and it's great to have that young energy we feed off so much. Because, ultimately,when a super-motivated intern joins, explaining this trend none of us has a clue about, it's like: "Let's suck the blood out of that young person who's come to show us everything." So, having the opportunity to teach, I, personally,am teaching young people who don't quite know yet what they want to do, but know they want to work in the creative field, or in business roles linked to creativity.
And their willingness of being: "Wow, yes, yes, that resonates with me,I think I want to work at your company for sure." When there's a match between teacher and student,it feels perfect and it's an opportunity we value a lot when we're hiring people.
For me, it's key when a candidate comes recommended by someone in the industry who I trust a hundred per cent.
I mean, I don't even need to see a CV if I know I'm looking for a producer, and a producer I've worked with and who I admire tells me: "Cris, you have to hire him." All I need is their phone number, that's it.
I completely trust recommendations from colleagues I've worked with.
Does it work the same for every type of profile?In my case, it depends on how much I trust the person giving the recommendation.
If it's someone I've worked with blindly before, then yes.
And I don't even value the CV anymore,I just need a quick 15-minute call with them to see if they're quick on their feet,if they can handle things under pressure, and say: "Perfect,they're going to fit in.
At Código Nuevo, we look for people who, when facing a problem, like, how would they react? Would they freeze and get stuck?"I need to call this person" or "Okay,let's push ahead, we may mess up, but let's get it done"?
If that's the kind of person they are, that's who we hire.
Whether they're a project manager, creative,every profile we hire needs to have that attitude.
