What Elon Musk Teaches Us About Hiring Differently

Embracing Creativity, Innovation, and Potential Over Traditional Credentials

Last day, I came across a job post shared by Elon Musk. Surprisingly, the position for a hardcore software/app engineer is still open! If you’re interested, you can send in your sample work to apply. While many people were shocked to see such a post, I wasn’t.

Today’s blog focuses on the rapidly changing era of technology. That’s right. Let me tell you something — you might notice it happening in the next year or two. The so-called nature of online or remote work is going to undergo a massive transformation.

You might be a bit confused about what I mean by this. Don’t worry; it’s simple. When you hear that people are earning a lot of money online, your curiosity kicks in. You start searching for ways to make money online. Instantly, you head to Google or YouTube and type something like “how to start online earning” or “best online earning platforms.”

And guess what? The results flood in — names like LinkedIn, Fiverr, Upwork, Medium, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and countless others appear on your screen. It looks promising, doesn’t it? You might feel as though your online earning journey is about to take off.

But here’s the bitter truth: Do you really succeed in earning money? No. And that raises an important question — why? Why aren’t you able to make money, even after finding all these platforms?

Let’s make this easier to understand. Imagine you are an MBA Finance graduate with 8 years of on-site working experience. When you decide to move to an online platform, you find nothing but disappointment. Meanwhile, people with far less experience and knowledge than you seem to land job offers.

This reality can feel frustrating and disheartening. Despite your skills and qualifications, the online work world doesn’t always reward you the way it should.

Why does this happen? What’s the real gap that’s preventing skilled professionals from succeeding online? Stay tuned because this blog will dive deeper into these questions and explore the solutions.

Right? I’ve experienced this myself.

I asked myself: where can I find a job? Where can I find genuine online work and a good client?

Then, another thought crossed my mind — why are company owners not paying attention to candidates with poor profiles but excellent work to showcase? Of course, not everyone is an SEO expert who can optimize their profile or get it noticed.

This is when I realized something significant: today, every company seems to be copying others. As a result, there’s a noticeable decline in customer loyalty toward brands. People are now experimenting with different options instead of sticking to one brand.

Why is this happening? It’s because the online recruitment process follows the same pattern everywhere. Bigger companies, for instance, look for high-ranking profiles, whether it’s designers or writers. They rely on recommendations, consider factors like time zones, and make hiring decisions. But here’s the problem — they rarely take the time to conduct proper interviews.

And this is where the real issue lies. An interview isn’t just a formality — it reveals a candidate’s personality. It shows whether someone has the power to make a difference or not.

It’s not just about their portfolio; it’s about their potential.

That’s right. You shouldn’t simply judge a candidate’s ability to complete tasks. Instead, you should focus on the creativity, innovation, and uniqueness they can bring to the table.

Apple workers are a great example of innovation and originality. Back when Nokia was thriving and Samsung was steadily climbing the ladder of success, Apple didn’t follow the footsteps of these market leaders.

Instead of mimicking Nokia’s dominance with Windows-based systems or Samsung’s growing Android ecosystem, Apple charted its own course. In 2010, as Android phones gained traction, Apple introduced a unique approach that redefined the smartphone industry.

They didn’t simply replicate what others were doing; they focused on creating something extraordinary — an ecosystem that combined hardware, software, and user experience seamlessly. This decision not only set Apple apart but also established them as a leader in the mobile market.

It’s a clear lesson: innovation wins over imitation.

You can clearly see the difference:

Bill gates was the co-founder of Microsoft and invested in Apple was also had a creative mindse.

This resonates with almost every hardworking person, I believe.

I love giving my best, but I always want quick results. That’s why I strive to find different ways to get things done instead of risking failure and starting over from scratch. By doing so, I’ve often achieved success efficiently and effectively.

Unfortunately, the reality is that we don’t have enough people who think and work this way to fill the talent pool for innovative hiring practices. Even I have had to wait for years for the right opportunities.

Thankfully, I sense that things are beginning to change.

We are starting to see more creative hiring practices, just like what Elon Musk is doing. This approach will undoubtedly give a quick boost to his company’s growth and innovation.

But what excites me even more is the possibility that, over time, company owners might begin to involve themselves more in the hiring process. They’ll focus on selecting the “right” person — someone with potential and creativity — rather than chasing after the “perfect” candidate with a flawless profile.

Thus, it is possible to come to the conclusion that the developing trend of versatile technology and diverse demands at work require a change in the definition of talent and creativity. It is not the magnitude of CVs or positions anymore — it is about visionaries and future shapers, problem solvers, and value creators.

As Albert Einstein once pointed that creativity is seeing what others cannot and then building upon what no one else thought could be build upon. This is the sort of thinking that organisations such as those of Elon Musk are only beginning to adopt, thus opening the door for better hiring.

Saying the future is unknown, yet, it is possible to say that it will be belong to those people who ready for changes and experiments, desire to go beyond the frame conventional moral and cultural values. Perhaps this change will help people and companies embrace creative and cooperative environment as a very valuable part of our working lives.