--- title: HBR Article on Blitzscaling - hiring fast, at scale description: HBR Article on Blitzscaling - hiring fast, at scale image: https://blog.recruitingtoolbox.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/HBR-logo-v3-300x200-3.png --- [![RT-Logo-400x282-1](https://blog.recruitingtoolbox.com/hubfs/RT-Logo-400x282-1.png)](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/) - [Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/) - CUSTOM-BUILT TRAINING FOR RECRUITERS & RECRUITING MANAGERS - [Overview](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/) - [Talent Advisor Training POPULAR](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/talent-advisor-training/) - [Recruiting Leadership Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/recruiting-leadership-training/) - [Diversity Recruiting Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/diversity-recruiting-training/) - [Selling and Closing Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/selling-closing-training/) - [Online Recruiter Academy](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/online-recruiter-training/) - [Recruiting Leadership Labs (Managers Only)](https://labs.recruitingtoolbox.com/) - [Recruiting Leadership Lab 50 (Sr Director/VPs Only)](https://labs.recruitingtoolbox.com/rll50/) - CUSTOM-BUILT TRAINING FOR HIRING MANAGERS & INTERVIEWERS - [Interviewer / Hiring Manager Training POPULAR](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/interviewer-training/) - [Overview](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training-for-hiring-managers/) - [License to Hire Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/license-to-hire-training/) - [Hiring Manager Diversity Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/hiring-manager-diversity-training/) - [Executive Hiring Manager Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/executive-hiring-manager-training/) - [Bar Raiser Training](https://go.recruitingtoolbox.com/bar-raiser-training-overview) - [Online Interviewer & Hiring Manager Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/online-interviewer-training/) - FREE TRAINING - [Recorded Webinars and Conference Presentations](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/free-best-practices-webinar-videos/) - [Consulting](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/) - REAL-WORLD CONSULTING SERVICES - [Learn more about our experienced consultants](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/team/) - STRATEGY & PROCESS CONSULTING - [Strategy, Org Model, and Process Consulting POPULAR](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/#strategy) - [Coaching for Talent Leaders](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/#CoachingforTalentLeaders) - [EVP, Employment Branding, and Messaging](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/#evp) - [Hiring Manager Self-Service Toolbox](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/#hiring-manager) - HIRING BAR CONSULTING - [Hiring Standards and Interview Guides POPULAR](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/#hiring) - [Bar-Raisers and Quality Control Mechanisms](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/#bar-raisers) - [Resources](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/) - BECOME AN EXPERT - [How to Be a Talent Advisor](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/how-to-be-a-talent-advisor/) - [How to Be an Effective Recruiting Leader](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/how-to-be-an-effective-recruiting-leader/) - [How to Leverage Bar Raisers](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/bar-raisers/) - FREE RECRUITING BEST PRACTICES - [Our Resource Library](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/) - [Recruiting Toolbox Blog](https://blog.recruitingtoolbox.com/blog) - [Recorded Webinars and Conference Presentations](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/free-best-practices-webinar-videos/) - [Event Attendee Downloads](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/event-downloads/) - STUFF WE LOVE - [Bookstore and Stickers](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/store/) - [Clients](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/clients/) - CLIENTS - [Who hires us?](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/clients/) - TESTIMONIALS - [Client Testimonials](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/clients/testimonials/) - [ARE YOU A SOLO RECRUITER, AGENCY, OR PART OF A SMALL TEAM?](https://staging.recruitingtoolbox.com/clients/solo-recruiters-agencies-small-teams/) - [How We Support Small Recruiting Teams](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/clients/solo-recruiters-agencies-small-teams/) - [About Us](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/) - WHAT WE DO - [How We Help Companies Recruit Better](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/) - WHY CHOOSE US - [Why Companies Hire Us](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/why/) - OUR TEAM - [Meet Our Team](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/team/) - [Connect With Us](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/connect-with-us/) - [Ask Us to Speak at Your Event](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/speaking-engagements/) - [Contact](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/contact/) - [Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/) - CUSTOM-BUILT TRAINING FOR RECRUITERS & RECRUITING MANAGERS - [Overview](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/) - [Talent Advisor Training POPULAR](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/talent-advisor-training/) - [Recruiting Leadership Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/recruiting-leadership-training/) - [Diversity Recruiting Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/diversity-recruiting-training/) - [Selling and Closing Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/selling-closing-training/) - [Online Recruiter Academy](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/online-recruiter-training/) - [Recruiting Leadership Labs (Managers Only)](https://labs.recruitingtoolbox.com/) - [Recruiting Leadership Lab 50 (Sr Director/VPs Only)](https://labs.recruitingtoolbox.com/rll50/) - CUSTOM-BUILT TRAINING FOR HIRING MANAGERS & INTERVIEWERS - [Interviewer / Hiring Manager Training POPULAR](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/interviewer-training/) - [Overview](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training-for-hiring-managers/) - [License to Hire Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/license-to-hire-training/) - [Hiring Manager Diversity Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/hiring-manager-diversity-training/) - [Executive Hiring Manager Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/executive-hiring-manager-training/) - [Bar Raiser Training](https://go.recruitingtoolbox.com/bar-raiser-training-overview) - [Online Interviewer & Hiring Manager Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/online-interviewer-training/) - FREE TRAINING - [Recorded Webinars and Conference Presentations](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/free-best-practices-webinar-videos/) - [Consulting](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/) - REAL-WORLD CONSULTING SERVICES - [Learn more about our experienced consultants](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/team/) - STRATEGY & PROCESS CONSULTING - [Strategy, Org Model, and Process Consulting POPULAR](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/#strategy) - [Coaching for Talent Leaders](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/#CoachingforTalentLeaders) - [EVP, Employment Branding, and Messaging](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/#evp) - [Hiring Manager Self-Service Toolbox](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/#hiring-manager) - HIRING BAR CONSULTING - [Hiring Standards and Interview Guides POPULAR](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/#hiring) - [Bar-Raisers and Quality Control Mechanisms](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/consulting/#bar-raisers) - [Resources](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/) - BECOME AN EXPERT - [How to Be a Talent Advisor](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/how-to-be-a-talent-advisor/) - [How to Be an Effective Recruiting Leader](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/how-to-be-an-effective-recruiting-leader/) - [How to Leverage Bar Raisers](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/bar-raisers/) - FREE RECRUITING BEST PRACTICES - [Our Resource Library](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/) - [Recruiting Toolbox Blog](https://blog.recruitingtoolbox.com/blog) - [Recorded Webinars and Conference Presentations](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/free-best-practices-webinar-videos/) - [Event Attendee Downloads](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/event-downloads/) - STUFF WE LOVE - [Bookstore and Stickers](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/store/) - [Clients](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/clients/) - CLIENTS - [Who hires us?](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/clients/) - TESTIMONIALS - [Client Testimonials](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/clients/testimonials/) - [ARE YOU A SOLO RECRUITER, AGENCY, OR PART OF A SMALL TEAM?](https://staging.recruitingtoolbox.com/clients/solo-recruiters-agencies-small-teams/) - [How We Support Small Recruiting Teams](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/clients/solo-recruiters-agencies-small-teams/) - [About Us](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/) - WHAT WE DO - [How We Help Companies Recruit Better](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/) - WHY CHOOSE US - [Why Companies Hire Us](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/why/) - OUR TEAM - [Meet Our Team](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/team/) - [Connect With Us](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/connect-with-us/) - [Ask Us to Speak at Your Event](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/speaking-engagements/) - [Contact](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/contact/) # Recruiting Toolbox Blog # HBR Article on Blitzscaling - hiring fast, at scale [John Vlastelica](https://blog.recruitingtoolbox.com/blog/author/john-vlastelica) May 14, 2016 1 minute read ![](https://blog.recruitingtoolbox.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/HBR-logo-v3-300x200-3.png?width=300&name=HBR-logo-v3-300x200-3.png) **Great article on lessons learned from hiring FAST from Reid Hoffman, founder of PayPal and LinkedIn, and early investor in Facebook.** Excerpt: **That reminds me of Google’s decision to hire only people with very high GPAs from elite universities. As a heuristic, there’s obviously collateral damage—there are many smart people you’re not allowed to hire—but it makes sense if your goal is to hire a large number of smart generalists quickly.** That created a lot of frustration. “I can’t hire my friend who doesn’t have that qualification, but I know that he’s really good.” And the company says, “Yeah, sorry. That’s the way we execute as we blitzscale. We need a simple heuristic so that we can focus on what really matters.” Another benefit of Google’s decision to hire only from elite universities is that it helped create and maintain a coherent culture as the company scaled. [https://hbr.org/2016/04/blitzscaling](https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fhbr.org%2F2016%2F04%2Fblitzscaling&h=xAQHMOCrwAQGSxL-CIl2KCF19JdzgNlAX14tJ73xuJWzOTg&enc=AZMs_CS5OXjLlBbmuuM-jVDo-arNAEcpLdEWRfG-4n4_ALzivOFp0b4KDcfH60XXhFJ4hAzB0kaXGJZlwpXD3AxsfP7JmOL7-KKuEonvT6tCdDnMp_pjFCMx369byNWS1xY7sysZEcfwkY1mup0ajTIBXrB0a6G5TH4Gpqg-E7QCcfk3vqrPw8bKznhmxArud-lkLlBjGuKTjVQf5Y8GekLd&s=1) ## You might also be interested in... #### [Recruiters Need Hiring Managers to Step Up - Here’s How](https://blog.recruitingtoolbox.com/blog/2017/09/28/recruiters-need-hiring-managers-to-step-up) #### [How Recruiting Has Changed in the Past 20 Years](https://blog.recruitingtoolbox.com/blog/how-recruiting-has-changed-in-past-20-years) #### [How to Engage Hiring Managers: An interview with John Vlastelica](https://blog.recruitingtoolbox.com/blog/2016/01/07/engage-hiring-managers-in-recruitment) ## About Recruiting Toolbox Recruiting Toolbox, Inc. is a specialized management consulting and training firm that helps [companies](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/clients/) recruit better, from startups to world-class brands. Our [consultants](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/about-us/team/) – all former corporate talent leaders – partner with you – heads of recruitment and HR – to improve speed, hire quality, candidate experience, and diversity hiring ROI. And it’s all tailored to your talent goals, culture, budget, and resource model. We work with clients across the globe – 20 countries so far – from our offices in the US. ## Popular Training Programs - [Talent Advisor Recruiter Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/talent-advisor-training/) - [Recruiting Leadership Lab](https://labs.recruitingtoolbox.com/) - [RLL50 (Heads of TA)](https://labs.recruitingtoolbox.com/rll50/) - [Interviewer / Hiring Manager Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/interviewer-training/) - [Online Hiring Manager Training](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/training/online-interviewer-training/) ## Best Practices - [What is a Talent Advisor?](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/what-is-a-talent-advisor/) - [How to be a Talent Advisor](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/resources/how-to-be-a-talent-advisor/) - [Talent Advisor Diagnostic Tool](https://go.recruitingtoolbox.com/talent-advisor-diagnostic-tool) - [Hiring Manager Maturity Model](https://go.recruitingtoolbox.com/downloads/white-papers-best-practices/the-hiring-manager-maturity-model) - [Interviewing Diagnostic Tool](https://go.recruitingtoolbox.com/interviewing-effectiveness-diagnostic-tool) ## Contact Us Interested in learning how we can help your teams recruit better?  [Contact us](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/contact/). Want access to more best practices? Like us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/recruitingtoolbox), follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/RecruitToolbox), and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/recruiting-toolbox-inc./). Subscribe to our [blog](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/blog-signup/) to receive best practices in your inbox a few times per month. © Recruiting Toolbox, Inc | All Rights Reserved | [Privacy](https://recruitingtoolbox.com/privacy/)