Bridgewater Associates ex-recruitment boss reveals the secret ‘unpopularity’ interview test he used on hundreds of candidates at the hedge fund
“You want someone who’s survived feeling alone before,” Kline added. So he’d specifically ask hundreds of Bridgewater candidates what they walked away from in search of what he calls “A-players who make sh*t happen.” And now he’s telling other CEOs to do the same as an executive coach. The other four tests the ex-Bridgewater Associates exec used to weed out low performers Kline left Bridgewater Associates in 2020 and later founded his own executive coaching company, MGMT.
- ▪“You want someone who’s survived feeling alone before,” Kline added.
- ▪So he’d specifically ask hundreds of Bridgewater candidates what they walked away from in search of what he calls “A-players who make sh*t happen.” And now he’s telling other CEOs to do the same as an executive coach.
- ▪The other four tests the ex-Bridgewater Associates exec used to weed out low performers Kline left Bridgewater Associates in 2020 and later founded his own executive coaching company, MGMT.
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| Original publisher | Fortune |
| Canonical URL | https://fortune.com/2026/07/26/bridgewater-associates-ex-recruitment-boss-unpopularity-test-hedge-fund-interview-candidates/ |
| Publication time | Sun, 26 Jul 2026 07:01:00 +0000 |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
If you’re job hunting, add one more secret test to your growing list of things that can quietly cost you the role: An ex-recruitment boss for Ray Dalio’s hedge fund Bridgewater Associates revealed that on top of the usual résumé red flags, he’d also judge candidates on whether they’ve stayed in a cushy job too long.Recommended Video Dave Kline, who spent nearly a decade in senior recruitment and C-suite roles at the world’s largest hedge fund, calls it the “(Un)popularity Contest.” And it’s one of five tests he used to separate high performers from everyone else.
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