/ / THE WORKING AUDITION FRAMEWORK
THE
COMBINE
Stop hiring from résumés and interviews. Draft your next player by watching them play.
The Combine replaces storytelling with evidence — every time.
RESUME VS. EVIDENCE
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/ / THE OLD WAY - RESUME HIRING
Self-reported history, polished for the occasion
Behavioral questions answered with rehearsed stories
82% management hire failure rate (Gallup)
Gut feeling dressed up as evaluation
VS
/ / THE COMBINE - LIVE-FIRE EVIDENCE
30-minute working exercise under real conditions
Scored objectively across Will, Skill, and Culture Fit
Two independent evaluators — score before discussion
Physics over feelings. Every single hire.
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THE THREE DIMENSIONS
W
WILL
Drive, coachability, and competitive intensity. The wiring you can't install after hiring.
S
SKILL
Technical competency in the specific capabilities the role requires — demonstrated live, not described.
C
CULTURE FIT
Scored independently by a second evaluator in 15 unstructured minutes. No asshole rule enforced.
82%
/ / MANAGEMENT HIRE FAILURE RATE UNDER TRADITIONAL METHODS
30min
/ / WORKING EXERCISE THAT TELLS YOU MORE THAN ANY INTERVIEW
2
/ / INDEPENDENT SCORERS BEFORE ANY OFFER DISCUSSION BEGINS
"THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER DOESN'T GET BUILT BY ACCIDENT. EVERY HIRE YOU MAKE USING THE COMBINE IS A BRICK IN THE DYNASTY." - JAKE SHANNON
HOW TO RUN YOUR COMBINE
01
PICK ONE OPEN ROLE
Don't try to redesign all hiring at once. Pick the next role you're filling. The first hire you put through this protocol will set the new standard.
02
DEFINE THE THREE CRITICAL SKILLS
Write down the three most important capabilities the role requires. Then build a 30-minute exercise that forces the candidate to demonstrate them under real conditions.
03
SET THE SCORING CRITERIA
Define what a 5 looks like and what a 2 looks like for each dimension before the candidates arrive. Two evaluators watching the same candidate should produce the same score.
04
ADD THE CULTURE FIT OBSERVER
A second person in your organization — not in the formal interview — spends 15 unstructured minutes with every finalist and scores Culture Fit independently. No offer without this score.
05
PAY THE AUDITION
Compensate candidates for the working exercise. It filters out candidates who aren't serious, elevates the quality of work produced, and signals that this organization pays for value.
/ / DOWNLOAD FREE
GET THE
COMBINE FRAMEWORK
The complete Working Audition template — exercise builder, scorecard, and
Culture Fit observer protocol. Run it on your next hire.