Thought works for ThoughtWorks: Recruitment process ensures that company gets the people it wants

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to describe an innovative recruitment process at ThoughtWorks, a software-application development company in India.

Design/methodology/approach

It details the skills and qualities that ThoughtWorks looks for in its software developers and how recruitment is aligned to project and organizational goals.

Findings

It reveals that despite high growth pressures, ThoughtWorks recruits very selectively to ensure that the quality of its programmers and the culture of the organization are maintained.

Practical implications

It shows that the recruitment practices of ThoughtWorks can be emulated by other companies in the software-development industry. This will ensure that new recruits are compatible with the organization’s culture and suitable for the chosen project-delivery approach.

Social implications

It concedes that the high rejection rates because of the difficult recruitment process put a strain on the recruitment team as well as on project managers and others involved in the interviewing process.

Originality/value

It considers an unusual recruitment process in a software-development company in India that follows agile project practices.

Citation

Pathak, A.A. (2015), "Thought works for ThoughtWorks: Recruitment process ensures that company gets the people it wants", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 23 No. 2, pp. 5-8. https://doi.org/10.1108/HRMID-01-2015-0009