- Tripadvisor's cofounder discussed the traits he looks out for when hiring and potential red flags.
- Interviewees should look out for questions about their most difficult projects and self-improvement.
- Kaufer says curiosity and adaptability are crucial traits, especially in startups.
A stellar résumé and LinkedIn profile is only half the battle for surviving the current job market. Nailing your hiring interviews is an entirely separate test, and Tripadvisor cofounder Steve Kaufer recently shared some red flag answers to avoid.
Kaufer, who stepped down as Tripadvisor CEO in 2022 to found the philanthropy-focused startup Give Freely, spoke on "The Logan Bartlett Show" about his interviewing methodology and what traits he looks out for when hiring.
One go-to question he asks: What's the hardest project you've ever worked on? Kaufer said he listens for tendencies to blame others (a red flag) or their ability to be empathetic to coworkers (a green flag).
"That can often tell me, are they a team player?" he said. "Are they ever taking responsibility on why something became difficult?"
In other words, don't play the blame game in interviews, as it could suggest an inability to take personal responsibility when things get tough.
The answer to that question can also indicate differing definitions of hard work, the former Tripadvisor CEO said. For example, if the candidate viewed a task as difficult because they had to work on a single Saturday, that can be "kind of a red flag," Kaufer said.
Kaufer said he looks not only at the obstacles interviewees struggled with but also at their ability to constantly evaluate and improve for future endeavors. Kaufe said he'll often ask about successful projects, and how they might still refine those processes.
"That'll sometimes catch people off guard," he said. "And I can see by the pause that they've never thought about it."
Kaufer is also particularly drawn to curiosity, which he also uses to gauge interviewees' adaptability. Interest in the latest technology or future trends can help indicate flexibility, especially in more unpredictable environments like startups.
"I don't know a good question for adaptability, I do know good questions for curiosity," he said.
For example, with AI as the tech sphere's latest industry shake-up, Kaufer specifically asks interviewees whether they have played around with new AI agents and chatbots. For Kaufer, it's important that a candidate demonstrate a willingness to adapt and a curiosity about what's around the corner.
The software engineers who say they haven't experimented with AI usually get passed on, he said.
"I just don't understand it," Kaufer said. "And I probably don't want to work with that individual."
