Introduction: A New System for Hiring -- Pre-Interview Strategies -- Make Phone Contact with the Candidate -- Ask for a Letter and Resume -- Give an Assignment Before the Interview -- Walk Around the Office When the Candidate Arrives -- Read Resumes in Teams If Possible -- Cast the Widest net Possible -- Use Caution Around Any Big Changes -- Rethink the Position Before the Interview -- Use Pre-Interview Tips in Combinations -- Conduct a Brief Pre-Interview Interview -- Strategies During the Interview -- Trust Your Instincts--Chemistry Is Crucial -- Look for the Passionate Candidate -- Ask All Your Questions at Once -- Have Fun During the Interview -- Assign a Mini-Project to Finalists -- Seek Closure by Announcing the Five-Minute Warning -- Watch for Inappropriate Behavior -- Identify Strengths and Weaknesses -- Pick a Subject Where You Are the Expert -- Take Notes During the Interview -- Interview in Teams for Top Candidates -- Ask for a Legal Release -- Throw a Few Curveballs at the End of the Interview -- Strategies After the Interview -- Ask for a Return Call from the Candidate -- Assign a Take-Home Project -- Travel with Finalists for Executive Positions -- Meet the Spouse or Significant Other -- Put Potential Problems on the Table -- Use an Intuitive Person in the Selection Process -- Consider What Psychological Tests Have to Offer -- Experiment with Handwriting Analysis -- Checking References -- Ask the References to Call You Back -- Network Up the Chain of Command -- Use the Internet as a Resource -- Perform Due Diligence for All Finalists -- Ask the Candidate, "What Will I Hear?" -- Devise a Phone Reference Checklist -- Meet References for the Finalists -- Final Strategies -- Invest in People, Not Ideas -- Find Someone You Trust -- Follow These Three Cardinal Rules -- Ask Yourself These Ten Questions -- Use Yourself as a Test Case with Experts -- Suggest a Trial Run When Possible -- Design Your Own Hiring System -- Summary Chart for Hiring Smart -- Nuts and Bolts -- The Ten-Step Interview -- Interview Questions -- Word Pictures and Puzzles -- Ten Curveballs -- Sample Legal Release Forms -- Pre-Employment Legal Guidelines -- Ten Unusual Interview Experiences -- Services -- About the Author, Designer, and Illustrator