Definition
A rigorous hiring methodology involving extensive interviews to ensure only 'A players' are hired, popularized by Bradford Smart. It's exhausting for everyone involved and assumes you can actually define an 'A player.'
Example Usage
Our top grading process includes twelve interviews and a full-day case study—we've hired three people this year and lost fifty to competitors with saner processes.
Origin
Developed by Bradford Smart in the 1990s, detailed in his book 'Topgrading' (1999)
Fun Fact
Top grading's chronological interview can last 3-4 hours, covering a candidate's entire career history, which some consider thorough and others consider psychological warfare.
Source: Hiring methodology and talent assessment systems
Related Terms
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