Why We're Reading CVs Wrong📄

Patagonia's approach to reading CVs is a key part of how they hire.

It offers one way to find employees that add to company culture, not just fit into it.

Here's why we should start by looking at the bottom of a CV, not the top...

1. Culturally aligned🤝 Above all, Patagonia wants people who are interested in helping others, so evidence of volunteering trumps academic qualifications.

2. Evidence of activism🌍: Obviously you have to care about "saving our home planet" but it's better if you can show a track record of action outside of work.

3. Avoiding climate drones🎨: the environment can't be all you care about. No one wants to work somewhere full of the same person. Look for passions beyond the environment.

The goal of "hiring for culture add, not just a cultural fit" so candidates have values that align with your mission and bring a fresh perspective hugely resonated for us.

Here is how Patagonia has shaped our thinking at Not Impossible:

1. We help organisations identify 16-25 year olds who share their economic, social or environmental goals;

2. We make it easy for everyone to then spend a day together. Our goal is to fix UK work experience but it also becomes an "open-day" or "try before you buy". Young people test which careers and organisations may suit them best, organisations get to know potential hires and build pipelines of their favourites.

3. We use data to avoid confusing cultural fit for having comparable lifestyles or backgrounds. Our smart matching process neutralises potentially discriminatory factors (such as gender, origin, and disability).

Book a meeting if this sounds like it could be up your street.