Personal finance guru Dave Ramsey has recently unveiled his “12 Components to a Good Hire” list, and in one of his tips, which he says “may be the best advice on the list,” involves taking a peek into a job candidate's marriage.
Ramsey, who is CEO of his financial consulting firm Ramsey Solutions, said that the people you hire for your business can be “your greatest asset and greatest challenge.”
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“Just like the Kentucky Derby, you can’t win in business with a team of donkeys—you need thoroughbreds," said Ramsey in the list.
He encourages employers to conduct multiple interviews before hiring a candidate, as well as to use tools to test a candidate’s intelligence, and to check their resumes, references, etc. When an employer is close to offering a candidate a job, Ramsey encourages in tip No. 11 for both parties to go on a “spousal dinner.”
“This may be the best advice on the list,” said Ramsey. “When you're pretty certain the candidate is a good fit for your business, bring them on site to meet your team and see how things work in your company. That evening, take them to a casual restaurant to get to know them better and share your company story. If they're married, include their spouse and yours.”
He claims that the move is a “game changer” and that the spouse can share their input on whether or not they think their partner is a good fit for the role. He also reveals that discovering the type of spouse the candidate has is an added bonus in the decision-making process.
“You’ll discover if your candidate is married to crazy,” said Ramsey. “If they are, stay away.”
Dinner interviews are not that rare
Dinner interviews are not a completely uncommon hiring practice. Employers will sometimes invite a job candidate to dinner when they have reached the final steps in the hiring process. This allows an employer to see their potential employee in a more relaxed setting, giving them a closer look at how they socially interact with others.
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An employer will have a chance to examine a candidate's manners, how they interact with restaurant staff and their overall demeanor during a dinner interview. On rare occasions, a candidate’s spouse may also be invited to accompany them during the dinner, but this is more common for those who are interviewing for senior roles. Employers may want to assess a candidate’s spouse because they may be attending future events at the company with their partner, or they may be present when their partner is entertaining clients.
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Ramsey also wants employers to review a candidate's personal budget
A job candidate’s marriage is not the only thing Ramsey encourages employers to look into during the hiring process. In the list, he also instructs employers to review the candidate’s personal budget before hiring them.
“Can the candidate afford to live on the salary you provide? If not, sooner or later, they’ll blame you for ‘not paying enough’ even though they accepted your offer and should know what they can and can’t live on,” said Ramsey in the list. “When people are worried about their bills, they’re distracted and can’t give their best.”
Ramsey’s advice comes at a time when most Americans claim they are living paycheck to paycheck amid high inflation and a challenging housing market. According to a recent MarketWatch survey, about 66% of Americans said they feel like they are living paycheck to paycheck, while almost 49% said that they consider themselves to be broke.
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