Cipher®: A Proven Framework to Hire the Best People
Most hiring still runs on gut feel, vague job descriptions and unstructured interviews. Craig della Penna's book replaces that gamble with a clear, teachable method.
A process problem, not a people problem
For fifteen years, Craig has helped leaders hire with greater clarity and rigor using the HireBest system. Its key component is the Cipher: a simple framework that defines success before you meet a candidate.
It distills any role into four essentials so everyone evaluates talent against the same standard.
- 1
Charge
Why the role exists.
- 2
Outcome
What changes in year one.
- 3
Deliverables
What the person produces.
- 4
Efforts
How the work gets done.
What leaders say
“Craig's Cipher approach is simply a more effective way to get the right team members into an organization, transitioning the process from an art to a science.”
“Their Cipher approach helps drive clarity to our toughest hiring decisions. I recommend this book for anyone interested in building a great team.”
“This practical, data-driven approach has transformed our hiring process and given us clear insight into the talent required for long-term success.”
Preview the Cipher book
Hire with confidence, not guesswork. Read a sample and see how structured interviews lead to better hiring decisions.
About the author
Craig della Penna is the creator of the HireBest system and founder of Aesop Partners. For more than 25 years, he has advised leaders at Fortune 100 companies, private equity-backed middle-market firms and privately held businesses on critical business decisions.
He has spent the last 15 years focused on talent strategy and executive assessment, replacing gut instinct with structure, clarity and measurable results. Craig has partnered with over 250 clients, conducted 2,000+ structured interviews, diligenced 175+ organizations and trained 800+ leaders. He is a professionally certified executive coach and a graduate of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and Trinity College.
Available now
Stop gambling with your most important asset. Learn the framework, then put it to work on your next role.