2 recruiting red flags that kill candidates instantly

If you're hiring and not filtering for these two traits, you're setting yourself up for failure.

Here’s what I look for—and why I’ll auto-reject anyone who misses the mark:

1. Vague metrics = zero credibility.
When I ask candidates to share the hardest problems they’ve solved, most give weak answers:
"I increased traffic by 400%."
Okay... but from what to what?
If your baseline was 5 visitors, that stat is worthless.

Real players can speak in clear, concrete numbers.
No hand-waving. No percentages without context.
Numerical fluency is a must—especially in a world where performance should be measurable.

2. No AI spend = no future.
If you’re not investing at least $20/month in tools like ChatGPT Pro, I already know you’re behind.
I don’t care if you’re a PM, marketer, or engineer—AI is your leverage now.

The best candidates aren’t just using AI. They’re experimenting, upgrading tools, and spending money out-of-pocket to level up.

That’s what proof of greatness looks like.

If someone isn’t willing to invest in themselves, why should I invest in them?

Here’s the bigger picture:
The job market is brutal. The bar is higher.
And the real value now comes from people who are both performance-driven and self-funded learners.

Those are the ones who will survive the next wave of layoffs, re-orgs, and automation.

To hiring smarter,
Eric Siu

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