By any measure, Google is an extremely successful company. So what is the secret to the tech giant's success? Its employees actually enjoy working there. And Google keeps its employees engaged by hiring the right people from the start. The concept of a T-shaped employee is familiar to Google, and refers to the employee whose skills and knowledge are both deep and broad. These employees will have mastery of a specific skill (the deep, vertical line of the T) while also demonstrating a broad understanding of a wide range of skills—particularly soft skills such as emotional intelligence and empathy—represented by the T's broad, horizontal line. Organizations that do well tend to hire employees that demonstrate this balance. Qualified candidates will not only possess specified knowledge, but will also be able to think and act broadly across disciplines, applying their knowledge in various settings. Google's interviewing and hiring practices are crafted specifically with the T-shaped employee in mind, and this plays a factor in the company's success.