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In this episode of the School of Hiring, Dr. Mark Smith, founder of A Better Choice Hire and author of A Better Choice: The Manager’s Guide to Skills-First Hiring, joins Konstanty Sliwowski to discuss how outcome-focused and competency-based hiring can transform the way organizations identify top talent. Mark shares his innovative approach to reducing hiring risks, pinpointing leadership potential, and leveraging assessment techniques like role-play to evaluate candidates in real-world scenarios. This episode is packed with actionable strategies to help leaders and hiring managers make more effective, future-proof hiring decisions.

Dr. Mark Smith, is an organizational psychology expert and founder of A Better Choice Hire. With nearly two decades of experience advising top organizations, Mark has redefined how companies approach hiring, shifting the focus from skills to outcomes and competencies that truly drive success.

Mark’s expertise lies in helping organizations minimize hiring risks by evaluating candidates through innovative methodologies such as role-play exercises, which simulate real-world challenges to reveal how candidates perform under pressure. His book, A Better Choice: The Manager’s Guide to Skills-First Hiring, provides a practical framework for managers to make confident, informed decisions.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Common Recruiting Pitfalls: Why focusing on resumes and “fit” often leads to poor outcomes—and what to do instead.
• Competency-Based Hiring in Action: How companies can shift from assessing skills to measuring competencies that predict performance.
• Identifying Leadership Potential: Key traits and behaviors that signal a candidate’s ability to lead, and how to uncover them during the hiring process.
• Evaluating for Outcomes, Not Promises: Strategies for assessing a candidate’s ability to deliver results in uncertain and high-stakes environments.
• Role-Play Assessments: How Mark’s approach simulates real-world challenges to evaluate a candidate’s readiness and problem-solving capabilities.
• Minimizing Bias in Hiring Decisions: Techniques to create a fair and effective hiring process that prioritizes competency and outcomes over assumptions.

This conversation is packed with actionable insights for leaders, HR professionals, and hiring managers looking to build teams that can deliver tangible results and thrive in any environment.

About Dr. Mark Smith:
Dr. Mark Smith is a leading expert in organizational psychology and the founder of A Better Choice Hire. His innovative assessment methodologies help organizations hire for outcomes and competencies rather than traditional metrics like resumes or skills alone. Mark’s latest book, A Better Choice: The Manager’s Guide to Skills-First Hiring, outlines practical strategies for modern hiring practices that drive team and organizational success. Learn more about Mark at abetterchoicehire.com and connect with him on LinkedIn.

About the Host, Konstanty Sliwowski:
Konstanty is the founder of the School of Hiring, a platform dedicated to helping leaders master competency-based hiring as a strategic advantage. With nearly 20 years of experience in talent acquisition and building high-performing teams, Konstanty shares actionable insights that empower leaders to achieve better hiring outcomes. Connect with Konstanty on LinkedIn

Follow Konstanty Sliwowski on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sliwowskik/

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