No Degree, No Problem: Steven Bartlett Hires Someone After They Thanked Security Guard By Name

Steven Bartlett, the founder and host of “The Diary of a CEO,” said he hired a candidate with a two-line CV after reading her behavior in the building as a stronger signal than formal experience.

Bartlett told Fortune that “much of the reason why I gave her the job was that she thanked the security guard by name on the way into the building.” He framed that moment as evidence of humility, respect, and social awareness, traits he considers difficult to train compared with job skills. During the interview, she acknowledged when she did not know the answer and described how she would find a solution. After the interview, she followed up within hours with the answer she had taught herself and emailed it to Bartlett.

Bartlett said the person became “one of the strongest hires” he has made six months into the role. He added via Fortune: “Fifteen years of hiring has taught me that culture fit and character are MUCH harder to hire than experience, skills, or education.”

Do Bartlett’s comments fall within a widening debate about interview etiquette and whether elite degrees and brand-name employers still function as the primary gatekeepers for roles? Bartlett’s reach extends beyond a single company. According to Forbes, “The Diary of a CEO” has more than 1 billion total streams and millions of monthly listeners, giving his hiring heuristics a distribution channel that can normalize how managers talk about screening.