Thought works for ThoughtWorks : Recruitment process ensures that company gets the people it wants

Purpose – This paper aims to describe an innovative recruitment process at ThoughtWorks, a software-application development company in India. Design/methodology/approach – It details the skills and qualities that ThoughtWorks looks for in its software developers and how recruitment is aligned to project and organizational goals. Findings – It reveals that despite high growth pressures, ThoughtWorks recruits very selectively to ensure that the quality of its programmers and the culture of the organization are maintained. Practical implications – It shows that the recruitment practices of ThoughtWorks can be emulated by other companies in the software-development industry. This will ensure that new recruits are compatible with the organization’s culture and suitable for the chosen project-delivery approach. Social implications – It concedes that the high rejection rates because of the difficult recruitment process put a strain on the recruitment team as well as on project managers and others involved in the interviewing process. Originality/value – It considers an unusual recruitment process in a software-development company in India that follows agile project practices.