What Really Drives Hiring Decisions (Hint: It’s Not the Job Description)
Overview
Hiring advice is everywhere. Honest hiring insight? Rare.
Join GDG Burnaby for a virtual session that goes beyond résumés, algorithms, and interview prep to reveal what actually happens inside the mind of a hiring manager.
In this interactive talk, Dr. Sneha Jain — a transformation leader with 15+ years of experience building and leading teams at world-class organizations — will share the unspoken realities of hiring, followed by an open Q&A where you can ask the questions that job descriptions and interview guides never answer.
About the Speaker
Dr. Sneha Jain
Transformation & Innovation Leader | AI Strategy & Governance
Dr. Sneha Jain is a seasoned transformation and innovation leader with over 15 years of experience at some of the world’s most respected organizations, including Mayo Clinic, Stanford Health Care, Mass General, Johns Hopkins, and major Canadian health systems.
She specializes in leading complex enterprise modernization, AI strategy, cybersecurity, and high-impact transformation programs — consistently delivering measurable outcomes at scale. Her track record includes driving over $100M in cost savings, scaling teams of 170+, directing portfolios up to $125M, and onboarding 1,000+ clinicians to digital platforms.
As a leader who has built and led high-performing teams and centers of excellence across global organizations, Dr. Jain brings a rare insider perspective on what it takes to identify, evaluate, and develop talent. At this session, she’ll pull back the curtain on how hiring decisions are really made — and what candidates can do to stand out beyond technical skills.
What You’ll Learn
How hiring decisions are really made behind closed doors
What hiring managers notice (and quietly dismiss) beyond technical skills
Common candidate mistakes that never make it into feedback
How communication, presence, and preparedness influence outcomes
What differentiates “technically strong” from “hire-ready”
Think of this as a guided tour of the “boring manager’s world” — where inbox overload, time pressure, risk aversion, and human bias all play a role. Understanding this world is often the missing ingredient between being qualified and being selected.
This is not about gaming the system. It’s about market readiness.
Session Format
This is a Q&A-driven session. Dr. Jain will open with key insights from her experience as a hiring leader, then the floor opens to you. Come with your real questions — about interviews, hiring culture, career positioning, or anything you’ve always wanted to ask a hiring manager but never had the chance.
Why Attend
Complement your technical expertise with real-world hiring insight
Learn how to position yourself more effectively in interviews
Gain clarity on expectations across industries and roles
Build confidence through transparency, not guesswork
Get your specific career questions answered live
Who Should Attend
Students, early-career professionals, and career switchers looking to gain a competitive edge through clarity and preparation.