Anyone who recruits talent faces the same basic challenge, whether we work for a big company, a new start-up, a Hollywood studio, a hospital, or the Green Berets. We all wonder how to tell the really outstanding prospects from the ones who look great on paper but then fail on the job. Or, equally important, how to spot the ones who don t look so good on paper but might still deliver extraordinary performance. In a tough economy, it s more important than ever to make every talent decision count.

George Anders sought out the world s savviest talent judges to see what they do...