Episode #138: Stop Bad Hires: The T.A.L.E.N.T. Interview Framework for Managers

In this practical and eye-opening episode, Suzie Price breaks down the costly mistakes behind bad hires—and how to stop them before they start. If you’ve ever hired someone who looked perfect on paper but turned out to be the wrong fit, this conversation will transform how you interview, evaluate, and build your team.

Suzie introduces the T.A.L.E.N.T. Interview Framework, a six-step system that takes the guesswork out of hiring. You’ll learn how to “Talk Less, Listen More,” master the power of “Golden Silence,” and structure interviews that reveal true motivation, accountability, and culture fit—beyond what a résumé can show.

Through research, stories, and actionable tools, Suzie shares how structure not only improves hiring accuracy but also boosts your credibility with top candidates. You’ll discover why fit, not skill, predicts success, and how a disciplined process positions your company as best-in-class.

You’ll Learn:

• Why most hiring mistakes happen after managers stop listening
• The Nine Interview Basics that build respect, control, and confidence
• How to use the T.A.L.E.N.T. model to uncover real fit and motivation
• The five areas of Job Fit—horsepower, fuel, drive, culture, and experience
• How structure and silence make candidates want to work with you

Whether you’re a seasoned leader or new to hiring, this episode gives you a repeatable framework to confidently select the right people—and build a team that thrives.

Takeaways of Episode #138 --- 

• Resumes Don’t Predict Success—Fit Does: Technical skills rarely cause failure; motivation, accountability, and culture fit do. Use structured interviews and assessments to look beyond experience into what really drives success.
  
• Talk Less, Listen More: The best interviews happen when candidates talk 75% of the time. Using silence, neutral responses, and aggressive listening uncovers truths you’d miss in a rushed, talk-heavy conversation.
  
• Structure Creates Confidence—for You and the Candidate: The Nine Basics, T.A.L.E.N.T. model, and TriMetrix assessment not only improve accuracy but also signal professionalism to candidates. A disciplined, respectful process makes top talent want to work with you and positions your company as best-in-class
  

In this episode:

Huff Logue [00:08:17]: “One of the biggest mistakes I see is that hiring managers do more talking than listening. Once they like someone, they stop qualifying and jump straight into sell mode.”

Huff Logue [00:11:21]: “Golden Silence is that moment after you make a statement when you just stop talking and listen. It sends the message: I’m really paying attention to you.”

Allan DeNiro [00:16:37]: “The reason people fail is almost never because they lack technical skills—it’s because they’re a bad cultural, values, or organizational fit.”

Allan DeNiro [00:24:19]: “Every time you speak, I learn something. Every time I speak in an interview, I’m not learning anything.”

Suzie Price [00:33:37]: “It’s not just about whether a candidate can do the job—the real win is finding the people who will thrive in the job. That’s how you build a Wake Up Eager Workforce.”

Resources Mention in the Episode:

Connect with Suzie:

• LinkedIn: Suzie Price
• LinkedIn: Priceless Professional Development
• LinkedIn: Wake Up Eager Workforce Podcast

Related PPD’s Suzie Price – Services:

• Hiring with TriMetrix: Superior Performance Assessment Process 
  
• Wake Up Eager Leader Three Call Coaching Process
  
• TriMetrix Training Programs and Resources

Related WUE W Podcasts:

• Episode #94, "Hiring Manager Mistakes and Best Practices
• Episode #132, "The Only Four Questions You’ll Ever Need"
• Episode #3, "Biggest Interview Mistakes

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RELATED DEVELOPMENT SERVICES:

• Risk Reward, and Research in Hiring Workshop: Train your entire human resources and management teams on hiring the right way, the first time.
  
• Hiring with TriMetrix: Superior Performance Assessment Process