Best books for Recruiters

Who: The A Method for Hiring

by Geoff Smart, Randy Street · 2008

~190 pages~5 hrs to read

A step-by-step hiring process: define the outcomes a role needs, source, run a screening interview, then a structured interview and reference checks. A good first book for learning what a disciplined hiring loop looks like and what to ask hiring managers for.

Hire with Your Head

by Lou Adler · 1998

~320 pages~8 hrs to read

Argues for defining a job by the work to be done rather than a list of requirements, and interviewing against that. Useful in your first months for intake conversations and for rewriting job descriptions with a hiring manager.

Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

by Chris Voss, Tahl Raz · 2016

~290 pages~7 hrs to read

A former FBI hostage negotiator's toolkit: labelling emotions, calibrated questions and listening for what is really driving a position. Read it before you handle your first offer negotiations and closing calls.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High

by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler · 2001

~270 pages~7 hrs to read

A method for keeping a conversation productive when opinions differ and emotions run high. Handy for pushing back on a hiring manager, delivering a rejection or raising a problem in a debrief.

Work Rules! Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead

by Laszlo Bock · 2015

~420 pages~11 hrs to read

Google's former head of people operations on how it approached hiring, including structured interviews, hiring committees and measuring what works. Read it once you run loops and want ideas for evidence-based process changes.

Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment

by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, Cass R. Sunstein · 2021

~480 pages~12 hrs to read

Explains why different people judge the same case differently and how to reduce that variability, including in interviews and hiring decisions. Helpful when you design scorecards, calibrate interviewers or run debriefs.

What Works: Gender Equality by Design

by Iris Bohnet · 2016

~390 pages~10 hrs to read

A behavioural-design approach to reducing bias in hiring and promotion by changing processes rather than trying to change minds. Read it when you are improving job postings, screening and interview structure.

Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most

by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Sheila Heen · 1999

~250 pages~6 hrs to read

Breaks hard conversations into what happened, feelings and identity, and shows how to approach each without blame. Useful for delivering bad news to candidates and for stalled disagreements with hiring managers.

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

by Robert B. Cialdini · 1983

~290 pages~7 hrs to read

Covers the principles behind why people say yes, such as reciprocity, social proof and scarcity. Useful for outreach messages, selling a role to candidates and winning agreement from hiring managers.

Talent Wins: The New Playbook for Putting People First

by Ram Charan, Dominic Barton, Dennis Carey · 2018

~190 pages~5 hrs to read

A view of talent as a company's central strategic resource, with the HR and talent leader working closely with the CEO and board. Best for recruiting leads and heads of talent who need to make the case for hiring investment.

Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility

by Patty McCord · 2018

~230 pages~6 hrs to read

Netflix's former chief talent officer on hiring, team composition and candid performance conversations. Read it when you shape hiring philosophy for a team or company.

High Output Management

by Andrew S. Grove · 1983

~240 pages~6 hrs to read

A manager's guide to running a team: measurable output, meetings, delegation and leverage. A solid foundation when you start leading a recruiting team and need to manage by results.