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Are You Ready to Make a Great Hire?

Use this checklist to pressure-test your hiring foundation before recruiting. Answer based on what is true today — not what you hope to figure out after someone starts.

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How to Score:

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YES = 2

Clear and already true today.

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NOT SURE = 1

Partly defined or still needs work.

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NO = 0

Not yet in place.

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Section score: 8–10 = Ready · 5–7 = Needs Clarity · 0–4 = Address Before Hiring

1. Is There a Real Reason to Hire?

A hire should solve an important business problem, not simply relieve a vague feeling of being busy.

• [ ] I can clearly explain the business problem or opportunity this hire should address. ★
• [ ] There is enough meaningful, recurring work or responsibility to justify creating the role.
• [ ] I know why hiring is a better solution than eliminating, automating, simplifying, or temporarily outsourcing the work.
• [ ] I can identify what capacity, expertise, consistency, or growth this person should create.
• [ ] I can explain why hiring now makes sense for the business.

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Clarity check: If the answer is only “I am overwhelmed,” define what should actually leave your plate and who should own it.

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We need this person because:

If this hire succeeds, the business should improve by:

Section 1 Score: / 10

2. Is the Role Clear?

Begin with why the role exists and the outcomes it should own, not a collection of unrelated tasks.

• [ ] I can describe the primary purpose of this role in one or two sentences. ★