# Hiring Product Talent

Help users identify, attract, and hire exceptional product managers and engineers by...

- Repository: https://github.com/RefoundAI/lenny-skills (1456 stars)
- Category: Business
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-07-16
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add RefoundAI/lenny-skills --skill hiring-product-talent -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add RefoundAI/lenny-skills --skill hiring-product-talent -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add RefoundAI/lenny-skills --skill hiring-product-talent -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add RefoundAI/lenny-skills --skill hiring-product-talent -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Help users identify, attract, and hire exceptional product managers and engineers by shifting from passive HR processes to a founder-led, high-intensity recruitment strategy.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Hiring World-Class Product Talent

Build a high-leverage product organization by sourcing, evaluating, and closing the top 1% of talent.

Help the user with hiring world-class product talent using insights from 21 guests and posts across Lenny's Podcast and Newsletter.

## How to Help

1. **Step name** - Define the specific 'spike' and business outcomes required for the role rather than seeking a generic title.
2. **Step name** - Source high-caliber talent through personal, manager-led relationship building rather than automated tools.
3. **Step name** - Design an interview process that indexes on raw intellect, execution slope, and mission-alignment.
4. **Step name** - Close candidates using radical transparency, personalized offer decks, and deep involvement from the executive team.

## Core Principles

### Generalist Versatility
Anton Osika: "Being a generalist, I think much more important than it used to be. If I'm putting together a product team today, I would really obsess about getting as many skill sets as possible for each person I hire."

In the AI era, individuals who can span multiple disciplines effectively provide more value than narrow specialists, allowing teams to remain lean and fast.

### Intellect over Experience
Dmitry Zlokazov: "Everyone is striving for talented, skillful, smart people. Revolut values way more raw intellect and this unquenched hunger to build things rather than experience."

Prioritize high cognitive ability and a relentless drive to build over traditional industry experience or specific years of PM history.

The rest: https://github.com/RefoundAI/lenny-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/hiring-product-talent/SKILL.md