A lack of follow-up makes me question how strong the candidate’s interest in the opportunity truly is, but for positions where closing a deal is essential — sales at an expansion stage company, sourcing for a venture capital firm, etc. — it can be a deal breaker.

If a candidate is truly interested in continuing conversations and potentially joining OpenView or one of the portfolio companies we support, why wouldn’t they continue to try to “close the deal” and follow up after an interview? Sales candidates, and candidates in any field for that matter, need to remember their ABCs when interviewing… Always Be Closing.

I have worked with hiring managers who have said to take any candidate out of the interview process who does not follow up with me after an interview, no matter how strong they were in their actual interview. Candidate follow-up is not only good manners, but may be essential to actually landing the job!

Do you consider a candidate’s follow-up, or lack of follow-up, during your interview process?

All companies, no matter what size, need to make sure social media guidelines are in place and understood by their employees in order to avoid such scenarios from happening.

But before you actually extend that offer, you must make sure you’ve completed these three checks…

1. Check the candidate’s LinkedIn profile, and make sure it matches up with their resume.  I have checked a candidate’s LinkedIn profile before, and found jobs listed that are not included on their resume (or the reverse). Sometimes, the dates a candidate says they’ve worked in previous roles are completely different, which can be  misleading. If any of the data does not match up, discuss these inconsistencies with the candidate.

2. Google them. You never know what you’ll find! I once Googled a candidate, who had transferred colleges after his sophomore year, and found that the transfer occurred because he had been charged with assault at his first school. While most information you find is unlikely to be a deal-breaker to your pending offer, it is worth doing this quick check to make sure you don’t find something that needs to be addressed before delivering an offer to a potential employee.

3. Look at their Facebook page, Twitter, and any other social networks that come up in your search. Again, no red flags = great! But in case you do find something inappropriate, it’s good to know about it and to address it now. Be careful not to let certain information — including a candidate’s political orientation, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, etc. –  acquired through social networks affect your hiring decision for better or worse. In order to make sure that such information does not cloud your decision making process in any way, you may want to ask a colleague not involved in the hiring decision to look at the final candidate’s profiles, but only to report back on that information that is not considered “protected”. Check out my previous blog for more advice on using social media sites when making hiring decisions.

Happy Hiring!

Prior to joining the OpenView team, Nick was an Equity Analyst for Echo Bridge Capital, a startup hedge fund in Boston. Nick has a BA in Economics and Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis, and has completed Level I of the CFA program. Now, on to our Q&A!

10 Questions with Nick Petri – OpenView Labs, Market Research Analyst

1. Tell us about yourself—Twitter style (in 140 characters or less).

NP: Recently crowned by Diana as OpenView Labs’ biggest Red Sox fan. I’m new to VC but have worked with startups before and loved every minute.

[Editor's notes: Congratulations, Nick! It is quite an honor, I'm sure. Nick is new to Twitter, as well -- start following him as he explores venture capital @NCPetri!]

2. What are you most looking forward to about working at OpenView?

NP: I’m really looking forward to working directly with the decision makers at our portfolio companies, and giving them actionable insight into how to take their business to the next level. I love that entrepreneurs are willing and able to pivot and take risks in order to be disruptive. That’s the biggest difference from my previous role as an equity analyst, because big public companies don’t give you much access to data, and are usually pretty resistant to change.

3. What do you think will be your biggest challenge?

NP: Some of the analysis I’ll be doing in the Research and Analytics group requires pretty detailed knowledge of our companies’ technologies and how they’re applied. Since I don’t have a tech background, I think it’ll be a bit of a challenge to get up to speed. Luckily I find the companies really interesting, so I’ll enjoy learning about them.

4. What is your favorite type of analysis?

NP: I find sizing new markets—where there isn’t already a powerful incumbent—both extremely challenging and extremely rewarding. Looking at a promising new business frontier and trying to estimate how big it will be really embodies the spirit of Venture Capital.

5. What is the last book you read?

NP: Black Mass – It’s a fascinating book about Whitey Bulger and his illicit ties to the FBI, plus it all took place in South Boston about a mile away from our offices. I almost always read non-fiction because I think a story is much more captivating when you know it actually happened.

6. If you had to eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

NP: Definitely the sandwiches from Viga. I can’t get enough.

7. What is your favorite neighborhood in Boston?

NP: I grew up on Beacon Hill, and I think it’s one of the coolest historic neighborhoods in the country. But Cambridge, where I live now, is way more fun.

8. What are your hobbies outside of work?

NP: I love being outside and will jump on pretty much any excuse to get out of the house, whether it’s golf, basketball, skiing, the beach, or just about anything else. I also really enjoy cooking.

9. If Hollywood made a movie about your life, which actor would play you in the lead role?

NP: I don’t think Brad Pitt could properly capture my awkward mannerisms, so I’d have to go with Keanu Reeves.

10. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

NP: At first I wanted to be Mo Vaughn, but I realized that was unrealistic because I was right-handed, so I decided to be Nomar Garciaparra instead. There was no question I was going to be on the Red Sox.

For past Q&As with other members of the OpenView team, check out my previous posts here.

Prior to OpenView, Dan was with Morgan Stanley in Boston where he worked as a member of a wealth management team that focused on providing customized investment strategies for their clients. His areas of focus specifically included equities, fixed income, and alternative investments. Dan received his BA in Economics from Boston College, where he was also a member of the soccer team.

10 Questions with Dan Lane – OpenView Venture Partners, Research Analyst

 1. Tell us about yourself—Twitter style (in 140 characters or less).

D: As long I am living close enough to the beach, a mountain, and a good golf course I will be happy.

2. What are you most looking forward to about working at OpenView?

D: Getting to know some very interesting people and learning about exciting businesses. From there, being part of a firm that really creates tangible value.

3. What do you think will be your biggest challenge?

D: Limiting my iced coffee intake. The refills at Flour could be an issue.

4. What industries are you most excited to learn about?

D: I’ve always been very much a generalist and am excited at the opportunity to have a chance to learn a lot about many different industries.

5. What is the last book you read?

D: Diary of a Hedge Fund Manager by Keith McCullough, great perspective into the life of a junior guy on a trading desk all the way up to running money at a large hedge fund with some clever insights into the industry along the way.

(p.s. Turns out I write sweet book reviews)

6. If you had to eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

D: Chicken Parm hands down. I even did a speech about it in high school.

7. What is your favorite neighborhood in Boston?

D: From experience, probably Southie. It’s all young people and there is always something fun going on right outside your door. The food is awful there though. Other than that, I like the Seaport a lot, especially during the summer.

8. What are your hobbies outside of work?

D: Golfing, Skiing, spending time with friends, not cooking, and Golf.

[Editor's note: It appears Dan really likes Golf]

9. If Hollywood made a movie about your life, which actor would play you in the lead role?

D: Leonardo DiCaprio – someone started calling me Leo in college and I didn’t see it at first. But I do think he’s the total package and has the skills to nail my part. Not sure if he’s athletic enough though.

10. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

D: A professional athlete; it varied depending on the season. At one point I thought I could definitely manage an NHL and MLB career at once, but I ended up playing college soccer, go figure…

Check out last week’s Q&A with Jessica Ray… and tune in next week as we introduce you to another new member of the OpenView team!