Hiring the right person is hard.
I’m not just talking about someone who can code, sell, write, design, organize, strategize, and juggle fire while riding a unicycle. I’m talking about the perfect fit. The one that feels like they were born to work with you. Someone who not only reads the job posting but reads between the lines, picks up on the vibe, and wants to be part of your tribe.
Now, anyone who’s tried hiring in today’s market knows the drill:
You post a job.
You get 200+ resumes.
Half of them feel copy-pasted.
And most applicants don’t even bother with a cover letter.
It’s like speed dating on steroids—with none of the romance.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with a ton of hiring methods. Some flopped. Others worked for a while. But one trick stood out so well that it’s now a non-negotiable part of our hiring process.
The Star Trek Test
Somewhere in the middle of every job post, I slip in a simple line:
“Please include the phrase ‘Beam me up, Scotty’ somewhere in your cover letter.”
That’s it. Easy. Harmless. And incredibly revealing.
If a candidate doesn’t include it, they’re out. No matter how brilliant their resume looks.
Harsh? Maybe.
Effective? Absolutely.
Because if you can’t follow a simple instruction hidden in plain sight, what’s going to happen when a client sends a detailed request? Or when we need you to think critically during a time crunch?
But here’s the magic: some candidates not only notice the line, they play with it. They riff on it. We’ve had applicants write entire scenes with Scotty in them. One applicant signed off with: “Energize my career—Beam me up, boss.” I laughed out loud and called them in for an interview the same day.
Those are the kinds of people I want on my team.
Creative. Thoughtful. Engaged.
People who get it.
What Makes This Trick So Powerful?
It’s not just about filtering for rule-followers—it’s about filtering for culture fit.
At Upsociate, we don’t hire robots. We hire real people with real personalities. We want people who can vibe with our energy and bring their own spice to the stew.
This little Easter egg in the job post helps us:
- Test attention to detail
- Spot creativity
- Gauge their enthusiasm
- Filter out the mass-apply clickers
And it works wonders.
Want to Steal This Trick? Here’s How to Make It Work
- Hide the prompt in the middle of the job description.
Not at the end, not in bold, not in red. Just blend it in naturally. - Make it fun.
It could be Star Trek, Harry Potter, Mean Girls, or SpongeBob. Whatever fits your culture. - Stick to your guns.
If they don’t include the phrase, don’t interview them. Period. Even if they’re a former NASA engineer with three MBAs. - Give bonus points for flair.
Did they play with the phrase? That’s gold. You want employees who go above and beyond, right? Here’s your early signal. - Let it reflect your culture.
If your workplace values fun, creativity, and personality—don’t shy away from showing that in your hiring.
Culture First, Résumé Second
Here’s the truth: Skills can be taught. Tools can be learned. But mindset? That’s baked in.
I’ve hired people who had every qualification on paper but brought nothing but tension to the team. I’ve also hired folks who needed a bit of training but brought an energy that lifted the entire room.
We’re building more than just a company—we’re building a community of like-minded, hard-working, honest and a little bit weird individuals who are ready to make something amazing.
So yes, we’ll keep using “Beam me up, Scotty” in our job postings. Because it tells us what no résumé ever could: whether someone is actually paying attention and actually wants to be here.
And if that line makes you giggle a little or makes your inner Trekkie grin—you might just be one of us.
