I hired for skills and fired for attitude, every time
You pick people up in this job, you talk. I ran a small minicab company on the side for about eight years, four drivers at the peak, dispatch through my wife. Everyone thinks the hard part is finding customers. It is not. The hard part is the guy who shows up late twice in a week and has a reason both times that you cannot really argue with. I had one driver, I will not say his name, came with references, clean licence, knew the borough better than I did. First interview he was sharp, answered everything, even asked about the pension setup which nobody ever asks. I remember thinking, right, this one is sorted. Hired him on the spot, which I had never done before. Felt good about it walking back to the car. Rain was coming in off the high street and I did not even bother with my hood.
I have hired probably thirty people over the years between the cabs and some other bits of work. The CV stuff, the interview stuff, that is all fine and you need it. But I kept learning the same thing and still hiring the same way. I do not fully understand why.