In a study, nine trainee programmers were tasked with a test of their coding abilities within two hours. The results indicated that the most skilled engineer was 20 times faster at coding and one times quicker at programming than the person with the lowest grades. Finances being tight, Hastings had a choice: hire 10 to 25 average engineers or hire one rockstar and pay significantly more than what he’d pay the others.
Human resources and hiring managers can’t be complacent when pursuing this rare breed. Attracting and retaining 10x employees requires a different approach than that used for regular employees. They must offer a compelling value proposition for accepting a job with the organization. As these folks are in high demand, they have their choice of which company to work with.
Leadership must look for candidates that hold themselves to the highest standards, take pride in their work and offer a track record of success and high commendation from former employers and colleagues.