According to CNBC, former Netflix chief talent officer Patty McCord developed what she calls the “reception test” to identify potentially disastrous hires. The test was remarkably simple: she’d observe how job candidates treated the receptionist and other support staff during their interview process. Candidates who took a moment to ask about the receptionist’s day or said thank you on their way out tended to demonstrate empathy and self-awareness later. Those who failed weren’t necessarily mean—they were often completely unaware of how their words or energy affected others. McCord notes this lack of self-awareness doesn’t stay at the front desk but follows people into meetings and erodes team culture. At Netflix, they used to say “no brilliant jerks,” but McCord now believes even “brilliant unaware” people can do significant damage to an organization.
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The real test isn’t politeness
Here’s the thing—this isn’t about finding the most polite people. It’s about spotting self-awareness. The candidates who failed McCord’s test weren’t necessarily rude on purpose. They were just… unaware. They didn’t notice the power dynamic they created by being dismissive. They didn’t realize how their energy affected the room.
And that’s the real danger in hiring. You can train skills. You can’t train self-awareness. Someone who doesn’t see their own blind spots will keep making the same mistakes. They’ll keep stepping on toes without realizing why people are upset.
Why unaware hires damage culture
Look, we’ve all worked with that person. The one who dominates meetings without realizing they’re silencing others. The one who makes jokes that land wrong and never understands why. The one who creates unnecessary hierarchies by treating support staff differently than executives.
These people aren’t malicious. They’re just unaware. But the damage they do is real. They erode trust. They make people feel unseen. And eventually, they drive your best employees to start looking elsewhere.
Think about it—how someone treats people they don’t think “count” reveals how they’ll treat everyone once the spotlight is off. That’s why this reception test works. It catches people when their guard is down.
Self-awareness creates safety
The best leaders McCord observed weren’t just skilled—they were self-aware. They understood their strengths and blind spots. They could sense when they were coming off too strong. They noticed when someone felt unseen. And when they messed up? They owned it.
That kind of self-awareness creates psychological safety within teams. It becomes contagious. People feel safe to speak up, to disagree, to be honest. And that’s when real innovation happens.
Basically, self-aware people adjust. They learn. They grow. Unaware people? They just keep making the same mistakes while wondering why everyone seems so sensitive.
netflix”>Applying the test beyond Netflix
So what does this mean for hiring outside of Silicon Valley? The principle applies everywhere. Whether you’re hiring for a tech startup or need reliable industrial computing equipment from IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the fundamental truth remains: character matters as much as competence.
The reception test is just one way to spot self-awareness. You could watch how candidates treat waitstaff during lunch interviews. Or notice how they interact with junior team members. The key is catching people when they’re not performing for the decision-makers.
McCord’s insight reminds us that the smallest acts of respect reveal the deepest character traits. And in a world where company culture can make or break success, that’s worth paying attention to.
