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Inside the Mind of Hiring with Dr. Mickey Fineberg
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Inside the Mind of Hiring with Dr. Mickey Fineberg

Author: Dr. Mickey Fineberg

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*Step into the intricate world of hiring with Dr. Mickey in "Inside the Mind of Hiring." This show dives deep into the psychology and strategy behind one of the most critical decisions leaders face: choosing the right people. Dr. Mickey reveals the often-hidden traits that make individuals right fit—or a potential mismatch—for an organization, emphasizing the profound effects that hiring choices have on company culture, morale, and effectiveness.* In each episode, Dr. Mickey and expert guests uncover the full hiring journey, exploring both the bright and shadow sides of candidate evaluation. The show highlights a powerful process that often separates hiring success from failure: assessments. From personality and aptitude tests to the psychologist’s interview, these assessments provide insights that go beyond what’s captured in interviews, references, and resumes. They enable hiring managers to look past the sunlight of surface impressions and into a person’s illuminating shadows to truly understand what makes a candidate tick in terms of both strengths and potential red flags. With Dr. Mickey as the guide, the show examines how assessments help mitigate common hiring challenges: **Uncovering True Motivations**: Assessments reveal what drives candidates—factors that may not come across in a polished interview. A person’s motivations often align closely with their engagement and satisfaction in the role, making assessments a vital tool to predict long-term fit and potential impact on company morale. **Identifying Hidden Strengths and Weaknesses**: Some of the most important characteristics in a candidate are often invisible on paper or even in person. Assessments can reveal traits like resilience, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and work ethic, which directly affect team dynamics and job performance. **Reducing Bias**: Interviewer biases can subtly influence hiring decisions, whether they stem from personal preferences or subconscious assumptions. By introducing the psychological assessment factor into the hiring process, companies can add a more objective layer of evaluation, reducing the influence of superficial biases and focusing on the traits that truly predict success in the role. **Improving Hiring Accuracy**: Despite best efforts, traditional hiring methods often yield a success rate of only 40-60%. The cost of a poor hire is high—up to two times the base salary—due to onboarding, morale impacts, and productivity losses. Assessments increase hiring accuracy by adding data-driven insights, helping organizations make well-rounded decisions that align with their culture and values. But Dr. Mickey emphasizes that while assessments bring immense value, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. The best hiring outcomes combine the insights of assessments with human judgment, personal impressions, and team input to create a comprehensive understanding of each candidate. "Inside the Mind of Hiring" isn’t just about finding the right fit—it’s about cultivating teams that drive success, lift morale, and embody the company's vision. This show is a must-listen for hiring managers, HR professionals, and job seekers alike. By learning how to leverage assessments and avoid common pitfalls, leaders can make more informed and successful hiring decisions, while candidates gain insights into presenting their authentic selves. Join Dr. Mickey for a deep dive into hiring psychology and discover how to make smarter, more holistic hiring decisions that shape thriving teams and successful companies
31 Episodes
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The hiring team did their job: Ensured qualified candidate sourcing (at least 3); Provided thorough and adept interviews and background reviews; Engaged solid background checks; Incorporated a business psychologist’s perspective; Participated in robust team discussions of candidates individually and comparatively; and made a consensus candidate choice; Yaay!!! Now, the chosen candidate needs to contribute to great business results and align with cultural standards. That’s the real challenge!
A skills-based organization (SBO) uses a dynamic system, that includes AI, to continuously map and update people’s skill and role requirements.. SBO’s outperform companies that remain focused on job titles because they can achieve better workforce agility, quicker role staffing, faster redeployment in reorganizations or crises, and more fluid internal ability. This is because AI surfaces transferrable skills and inferred skills (from a person’s background, behaviors, and experiences). These skills-based systems actually increase the chances for employees to take on new roles or promotion opportunities because of decreasing needs for external hiring. So, SBO employees tend to be more enriched, engaged, and loyal (IF THEY’RE WILLING AND EQUIPPED FOR RAPID ADAPTATION AND CHANGE IN LEARNING AND APPLYING TRANSFERRABLE AND NEW SKILLS)
This show will focus on the key characteristics that hiring managers are prioritizing for 2026 and likely a good bit beyond. They are being more selective now and are trying to recruit people for all seasons, or truly well-rounded individuals. So, for hiring managers who want to achieve competitive advantage and job seekers who want to be ahead of the crowd, this episode is for you.  
Organizational Culture

Organizational Culture

2026-01-2028:20

I recall attending a seminar where the recruiter-presenter was talking about the importance of cultural fit in hiring the right people. When I asked him to define culture, I got a lot of mumbo jumbo, not a clear enough definition. Shortly after this seminar, I saw a culture definition that made sense: Behavior that is tolerated and Rewarded/Behavior that is Frowned upon and Punished. Most of the CEO’s and business owners I’ve met, read about, and heard say that cultural fit is the most important factor in evaluating potential hires. As a talent evaluator for over 40 years I have understood why. The vast majority of reasons people are successful or fail relate to the right or wrong culture fit: “The manager is really good at resolving problems at the peer level.” “The manager always needs a boss to solve inter-departmental conflicts.”  
From C-suite executives to solo entrepreneurs, no one can ignore its impact. As Dr. Pat pointed out, even top personal development leaders are rebuilding their platforms with AI at the core. So, how do you adapt? How do you evolve? And most importantly, how do you change in a way that is authentic and lasting? Watch https://youtu.be/TvrykAWK4-E
How does one think and act like an owner? Unemployment numbers are creeping up. Job openings are becoming scarcer. Businesses are being more selective. So, when you’re on the job or job hunting, it is very important to think like an owner and act like one (without being presumptuous of course). If you do, you’ll stand out. You’ll weather lay-offs; you’ll come to mind for promotions; and maybe you’ll even start your own business.
How does one think and act like an owner? Unemployment numbers are creeping up. Job openings are becoming scarcer. Businesses are being more selective. So, when you’re on the job or job hunting, it is very important to think like an owner and act like one (without being presumptuous of course). If you do, you’ll stand out. You’ll weather lay-offs; you’ll come to mind for promotions; and maybe you’ll even start your own business.
The job interview is often the defining moment in the hiring process. It is your opportunity to make a strong first impression, communicate your achievements, and demonstrate how you fit within the organization’s culture. Dr. Mickey Fineberg shares valuable insights on how to navigate interviews successfully, from preparation to execution.  Watch here: https://youtu.be/euJJPaDFXR8  The key to interview success lies in preparation, authenticity, and strategic communication. From presenting yourself professionally to crafting compelling answers, every detail contributes to how you’re perceived. Follow these expert insights from Dr. Mickey Fineberg to improve your chances of landing the job you desire. For more career guidance, visit DeltaConsultants.com 
In my long career of testing people for jobs, I’ve had some key ups and downs in calling whether job candidates will be successful. Fortunately my ups have significantly outweighed my downs, but some of my downs have been pretty bad!
Today, I’m honored to introduce my terrific guest, Kathy Rosati, the Vice President HR of the Philadelphia Contributionship. TPC is a homeowners insurance company based in, you guessed it, Philadelphia, Pa. Kathy and I have been professional colleagues for many years. Planning to retire from her great career next year, Kathy is now engaged in the challenge of selecting her successor and then facilitating a smooth transition. Kathy, thanks so much for joining our show today.   Watch https://www.transformationtalkradio.com/watch.html 
This is Dr. Mickey Fineberg, and our show is Inside the Mind of Hiring. Today we’re going to discuss leadership succession with Bob Cohen, the second-generation owner of ACME Corrugated Box Company, a multi-generational manufacturer near Philadelphia, Pa. Bob, thanks for joining our show today. Watch https://www.transformationtalkradio.com/watch.html 
Succession!

Succession!

2025-10-0728:28

I loved the Netflix series Succession. Every time I viewed an episode I had fond memories of my regional, Italian-family-owned supermarket client. I served them for 20 years. The business was started by a produce street vendor (G1) in Norristown, Pa, some 20 miles west of Philadelphia. He eventually opened a superette, a relatively small-sized market in the same town. He had five sons (G2). Each became the manager of a standard-sized supermarket in a widening territory. They eventually became the business owners, and hired people to merchandise and run the stores. They built a brand of strong service and innovative merchandising. The five brothers each had two sons. Nine of the cousins joined the business in high school. The 10nth eventually became a priest. As they became adults, the cousins replaced their fathers as department heads (Grocery, Produce, Meat, Non-Foods, Real Estate, etc) Then eventually, the 5 brothers retired and the 9 cousins became the owning operators of the business with the oldest named CEO.     Watch https://www.transformationtalkradio.com/watch.html 
In the summer of 2017, a warehouse and distribution center design/build company came to us with the objective of creating a predictive test program to help them hire successful Project Managers with greater consistency. Project management has been a very important leadership role for various businesses and industries over last 25-plus years. For this construction company, it is clearly a mission critical job. Their typical candidate has a four-year mechanical or civil engineering degree. While candidates may have summer internships with the company or other firms, they are most often hired right out of college so they can be trained and culturally molded without the baggage of counterproductive habits. In some six to eight months, they are expected to become the CEO’s of multi-million-dollar construction programs and to create “raving fan” customers. The job entails facility design, establishing deals with subcontractors, leading efficient project execution, and ensuring customer and local government approval at every key phase.   Watch https://www.transformationtalkradio.com/watch.html   
I recently tested two women for a Corporate Accounting Manager job for a private equity firm that owns several companies. Both were soundly qualified and made a credible interview impression. However, when I asked each one about their weaknesses and how they deal with them, they both cited experiences of not being taken seriously because of being women, particularly in male dominated industries. One mentioned that she is short in stature which may have added to the problem. One was in her early 30’s and the pother in her late 30’s. Each noted at least one other weakness, but it was surprising to me that being female was mentioned by either one of them as a personal shortcoming per se. That said, it must have felt real for them, but more from the standpoint of being a physical disability or handicap.   Watch: https://youtu.be/qj-ECmxMk5M 
Dr. Mickey opens with a bold premise: the President is essentially the CEO of the United States. With that in mind, would he "hire" Donald Trump to run one of his client companies? His answer: “No.” While acknowledging Trump’s charisma, energy, and strategic edge, Mickey finds his leadership style too divisive for the kind of unified culture most businesses need. “Half the workforce would feel engaged,” he says, “but the other half would feel excluded.” Yet, the perception from millions of Americans tells another story—Trump's appeal is real, persuasive, and resilient.  As the 2028 race looms, this episode challenges us all to rethink what leadership should look like—and how we hire it.   Watch https://www.transformationtalkradio.com/watch.html 
Dr. Pat shares a red-flag experience where a candidate texted her demanding updates without context or professionalism. “If you’re abrupt with the CEO, how are you going to treat clients?” she asks. It was a deal-breaker. Dr. Mickey reinforces the importance of setting clear expectations for each team member’s role in hiring. He encourages leaders to not only bring people together for interviews but to help them understand their own unique value and how they complement each other.   Watch: https://youtu.be/iC5POyXmy5o 
Recently, I had the opportunity to assess a VP of Operations candidate for a media company navigating the complex terrain of AI integration. This wasn’t a routine placement—this was about identifying someone who could lead organization-wide AI implementation while navigating a matrix leadership environment, where influence matters more than formal authority. So how do we determine if someone is the right fit for a role this critical? Tune in to find out. Watch https://youtu.be/QGzSVpO5GYI
From C-suite executives to solo entrepreneurs, no one can ignore its impact. As Dr. Pat pointed out, even top personal development leaders are rebuilding their platforms with AI at the core. So, how do you adapt? How do you evolve? And most importantly, how do you change in a way that is authentic and lasting? Watch https://youtu.be/TvrykAWK4-E
Hiring for leadership isn’t just about resumes or even impressive interviews. It’s about deeply understanding human behavior—and sometimes betting on the potential for transformation. As a psychologist specializing in leadership selection, I’ve spent decades inside the minds of candidates and the decision-makers who hire them. In a recent assessment I conducted, I found myself in a familiar yet challenging situation: the data wasn’t giving me a clear answer. Tune in to learn about the result.   Watch: https://youtu.be/JTLYLcmCP4c
Every hiring decision is a calculated risk—especially when it comes to roles that demand complex problem-solving, like sales engineers. So how do you really know if a candidate can not only learn the ropes, but also navigate the game once they're in it? In our latest episode of Inside the Mind of Hiring, we dug into what makes thinking skills a make-or-break factor—and how even strong IQ scores don’t always tell the full story.   Watch https://www.transformationtalkradio.com/watch.html 
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