Bias in Recruiting and Hiring

Netflix’s “Keeper Test”^[1]

Since 2009, Netflix has created, updated, and publicized official descriptions of its company culture. One aspect of its company culture is known as the “keeper test,” which is a way for managers to evaluate employees. Managers were to ask themselves, “If a team member was leaving for a similar role at another company, would [I] try to keep them?”^[2]

The 2024 update to the Netflix Culture Memo introduced a new dimension to the keeper test. Managers are now asked to also consider, “[K]nowing everything I know today, would I hire X again?”^[3] Also new to the Culture Memo is the “dream team” concept that emphasizes performance over personal feelings. “Professional sports teams . . . focus on performance and picking the right person for every position, even when that means swapping out someone they love for a better player.”^[4]

The Culture Memo also includes a list of the attributes that Netflix values:^[5]

• Selflessness — you are humble when searching for the best ideas; you seek what’s best for Netflix, not yourself or your team; you take time to help others succeed.
• Judgment — you look beyond short term fixes in favor of long term solutions; you make wise decisions despite ambiguity; you use data to inform your intuition.
• Candor — you willingly receive and give feedback; you are open about what’s working and what needs to improve; you admit mistakes openly and share learnings widely.
• Creativity — you welcome new ideas; you are passionate and persistent in pursuit of more innovative solutions; you value artistic expression.
• Courage — you are vulnerable in search for the truth; you are willing to risk failure, or challenge the status quo, in the pursuit of excellence.
• Inclusion — you recognize your biases and work to counteract them; you work to ensure everyone at Netflix can do their best work, whatever their culture, identity or background.
• Curiosity — you learn rapidly and eagerly; you are as interested in other people’s ideas as your own; you’re humble about what you don’t yet know.
• Resilience — you quickly adapt to changing circumstances; you make tough decisions without agonizing or long delay; you embrace a hard challenge.

Co-CEO Greg Peters explained that Netflix prioritizes culture over strategy and execution because a strong culture will lead to better performance.^[6]