Titles, tenure, and paths don't matter – REWORK

In this episode, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about why résumés, job titles, and career timelines take a back seat to what really matters when hiring — your actual work. They share how real-world examples cut through the noise, and open doors for people who may not have a traditional path.

*Key Takeaways*

00:00 – Episode highlights
00:10 – Why final hiring decisions come down to a candidate’s actual work
03:50 – The 37Better redesign project
07:27 – How real project work reduces the guesswork of hiring
14:29 – Why creating work outside your portfolio shows your range and creativity
20:02 – Hiring when it hurts

*Links and Resources*

“Years of Evidence” from Jason Fried’s HEY World – https://world.hey.com/jason/years-of-evidence-9f0504db

The 37Better Project (archived) – https://web.archive.org/web/20050209100729/http://www.37signals.com/better.php

Record or upload a video question for Jason and David — https://www.37signals.com/podcastquestion

Get a free Basecamp account at https://www.basecamp.com 

Books by 37signals – https://37signals.com/books

30-day free trial of HEY – https://www.hey.com/

Once. com – https://once.com/

Campfire – https://once.com/campfire

HEY – https://www.hey.com/

The REWORK podcast – https://37signals.com/podcast/

Get some REWORK podcast merch – https://37signals.com/podcast/shop

*Let's be social!*

Twitter/X: https://x.com/37signals
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/37signalshq/

Rework is a production of 37signals. You can find show notes and transcripts on our website https://www.37signals.com/

Leave us a video question at www.37signals.com/podcastquestion or send an email to rework@37signals.com, and we might answer it on a future episode.