Written Skills Predict Performance

Matt Mullenweg shares insights about Automattic's unique hiring approach, emphasizing the importance of written communication and asynchronous work. The company has developed distinctive hiring practices that differ from traditional tech companies, focusing on practical skills over credentials.

• Written Communication is Critical:

  • Best hires often correlate with strong writing abilities
  • More valuable than advanced degrees or PhDs
  • Primary mode of interaction in remote work

• Hiring Process Innovation:

  • Conducts hiring primarily through text communication
  • Uses platforms like Slack (previously Skype and IRC)
  • For first 1000+ hires, Matt personally did final chat interviews
  • Some roles (like sales) may include Zoom calls, but not required

• "Auditions Not Interviews" Approach:

  • Pays candidates $25/hour for trial projects
  • Tests real work scenarios
  • Support roles handle actual customer tickets
  • Creates practical assessment of capabilities

• Competitive Advantage in Hiring:

  • Competes with larger tech companies for talent
  • Finds overlooked talent through unique hiring process
  • Creates opportunities for impact regardless of location
  • Headquarters is "on the internet" with colleagues in 90 countries

• Equal Pay Philosophy:

  • Same salary regardless of geographic location
  • Challenges traditional tech company compensation models
  • Believes "same work, same pay" should apply globally
  • Views this as the future of work
  • Emphasizes value generation over location-based pay

This approach has helped Automattic grow to 750+ people while maintaining high standards and competing with larger tech companies for talent.