Passion isn’t an accident. It’s a decision — a conscious choice to pursue the kind of work that makes you come alive. And that decision starts long before someone accepts a job. It starts with understanding what you really want to be, and whether the place you’re considering will help you become it.
I recently watched Steve Wynn talk about hiring on Instagram. Like most gamblers — and poker players — he sizes people up quickly. But what struck me wasn’t his instinct. It was his advice. He encourages candidates to ask enough questions about the company, its mission, its objectives, its management style (his and the organization’s), and its culture. He wants them to feel good about what they’re getting into. He doesn’t want them to have buyer’s remorse. It’s too disruptive when either side makes a mistake.
He’s right. Most hiring managers spend too much time talking and not nearly enough time listening. Much of what they need to know is already on the résumé. A few clarifying questions will tell you the rest. But the odds of a candidate being successful — and passionate — increase dramatically when they get all their questions answered.
So, flip the script:
· Let candidates know, in the job posting or when scheduling the interview, that you expect them to interview you.
· Know what you want them to understand about your company, your expectations, and your culture — and make sure your answers paint the full picture.
· If they leave out a question you think matters, suggest it. That gives them more information than they expected, reveals their critical thinking skills, and ensures both sides have what they need to make a good decision.
Sometimes those two decisions match. When they do, you hire people who will be happy, committed, and passionate about their work — your future superstars.
Other times, the decisions don’t match. That’s when you should tell them, honestly and without hesitation, that if they don’t love something, they shouldn’t do it. Talk about alternatives. Be a career coach. Help them find the right fit, even if it isn’t with you.
Both paths end the interview on a positive note. One launches a passionate career. The other builds good karma.
That’s how you make win‑win hiring decisions today — by helping people choose work they can love, and by choosing people who will love the work you offer today.
Ray Bradbury (1920 – 2012): American author and screenwriter in a variety of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, and realistic fiction.
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