The largest crimson flag in a job interview, based on a founder—and what impresses her most


Jaclyn Johnson has huge plans for her enterprise.

She began internet hosting occasions for girls entrepreneurs in 2011 and formally launched her firm, Create & Domesticate, in 2015.

Within the final decade, the founder has scaled the enterprise to host 2,000-attendee gatherings, bought the corporate for $22 million, purchased it again, introduced on a brand new CEO and constructed the “Coachella for profession ladies” — a two-day competition with programming that features Doechii, Ciara, Aeysha Curry and Paige DeSorbo.

Johnson, 40, is now Create & Domesticate’s chief artistic officer. When she hires somebody, she appears to be like for somebody who can transfer quick and work with huge concepts for the startup.

Considered one of her favourite interview inquiries to ask a potential rent is, “What’s a time that you simply put a fireplace out?”

Jaclyn Johnson purchased again her firm, Create & Domesticate, in 2024 and has been gearing as much as host the “Coachella for profession ladies” ever since.

Britt Perkins Images

Her purpose is to see how somebody operates and solves issues when factor do not go precisely as deliberate. “People who find themselves capable of flex and transfer and adapt rapidly are all the time nice for a startup atmosphere,” Johnson says.

Johnson additionally appreciates individuals who aren’t afraid to debate when issues go unsuitable, or errors they’ve made and the way they’ve since mirrored on them. “My inexperienced flags are individuals who can come to an interview and in addition speak in regards to the good, the dangerous, the ugly,” she says.

Her job-interview crimson flag—and the best way to keep away from it

However, Johnson says her greatest job interview crimson flag is somebody who exhibits up unprepared and would not perceive the position or the corporate.

“Doing all of your due diligence earlier than you do an interview is so necessary,” Johnson says. To verify this, she asks one other query to gauge how a lot the candidate understands in regards to the firm’s work, and extra importantly, what they consider the work being achieved.

As an illustration, if she’s interviewing somebody for a advertising position, she’ll ask, “What do you want in regards to the advertising we’re doing? What do you suppose we may do higher?”

“I am all the time so impressed when somebody has actual suggestions to supply on the enterprise and the corporate,” Johnson says. In the meantime, “in the event that they haven’t any clue about your online business and even what is going on on or what you are doing, I believe that may be a crimson flag.”

Create & Domesticate’s group is lean: Within the time since Johnson’s return, the corporate has grown from fewer than 10 workers to about 15 now. After they’re not on-site at occasions, staffers work absolutely remotely throughout New York Metropolis; Boston; Washington, DC; Nashville; San Diego and elsewhere. The corporate additionally works with a community of company companions.

Johnson says hiring for the best match and {qualifications} is essential as a distant group. A few of her concerns embrace, “What sort of vitality do they create to the group by Zoom, which I do know sounds loopy, however it’s [important],” she says. “How is the vitality and the way do they join with you, on-line and offline? What does that seem like? You are making an attempt to create that tradition.”

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