In a world where achievements and qualifications often take centre stage, it’s easy to forget that the most valuable experiences in life rarely come with a title or a bullet point on a CV. Imagine a life where every moment, every challenge, and every joy adds richness to your story - far beyond what any job description can convey. Indeed, former Google executive Jennifer Dulski has a clear idea of what she seeks in candidates during the hiring process. 

As the CEO and founder of Rising Team, which specialises in team development programs, she draws on her experience as a leader at major companies such as Google and Facebook. When selecting new team members, she prioritises qualities such as adaptability, resilience in the face of challenges, creativity, and ambition, CNBC reports. Yet to determine whether a candidate has these qualities, she doesn’t solely inquire about their career successes. “I always start by asking people to tell me about their life before their resume,” she says.

Here’s the reason why.

For Dulski, evidence of the qualities she seeks in candidates is found in their personal character rather than solely in their professional accomplishments. “People who are ambitious and creative and adaptable and overcome obstacles. I can see those patterns in people’s early life.” She searches for anecdotes from candidates' childhoods, such as starting a business selling lemonade or T-shirts. For instance, if she’s interviewing an engineer, she might ask about experiences involving taking things apart and reassembling them to understand their mechanics. 

By applying that natural drive and hard work, “it’s clear when they do that in their lives, they’re likely to do that at work,” she comments.

Many individuals will instinctively share their passions and early successes with Dulski, often even before she prompts them. According to her, this is especially true for good salespeople. However, for those who don’t readily open up, she uses a straightforward question: “Tell me about your life before your resume.”

“How did you get to be the person I see on paper and go back as long as long as you’re comfortable. Share only what you’re comfortable with.” 

This question often encourages candidates to share stories that reveal the qualities they possess and what they can contribute.