Omar Asali, Chairman and CEO of Ranpak, a $661 million eco-conscious packaging firm, shared valuable hiring advice in an interview with CNBC Make It. The number one warning sign he looks for in job candidates? Smooth talkers.
According to Asali, candidates who focus on self-promotion rather than the organization’s success are a major concern. “You need to be cautious about individuals who are all talk and overly self-serving,” Asali explained. “I’m not looking for someone who excels in presentations; I want someone who can get the job done and achieve results.”
This mindset has shaped Asali’s thoughtful recruitment strategy. He aims to differentiate between “talkers” and “doers.” Although he’s not involved in every hiring decision, he takes a hands-on approach when it comes to senior-level executives. One unique technique he uses is asking candidates to describe themselves using 10 words, a question designed to elicit genuine, spontaneous responses.
According to Asali, these unscripted answers offer far more insight into a candidate’s personality than any rehearsed statement. He values honesty and openness, which he believes foster stronger connections. “The more sincere they were, the more I appreciated the conversation,” he said, reflecting on how vulnerability often revealed the best candidates.