Fill In the Hiring Dossier in Order
The seven templates that make up the CTO hiring dossier, from the one-page need statement to the first-year evidence file.
Companion to The CTO You Actually Need · Updated 2026-09-29
These pages hold the core artifacts of the CTO hiring dossier. Complete them in order when possible. If a search is already active, fill the gaps before the next major candidate decision.
- Write the need statement so someone can disagree with it
- Rate ten needs to find the role type
- List 15 to 25 real decisions from the past year
- Fit the mandate on two pages
- Write the hiring-bet memo before the offer
- Turn each known risk into support and a signal
- Keep a light record of material decisions
In this section
- Write the Need Statement So Someone Can Disagree With It
A one-page, eight-field template stating why the company needs technology leadership, with a quality test.
- Rate Ten Needs to Find the Role Type
A ten-row diagnostic that rates each need low, medium, or high and maps the pattern to a CTO role type or overlay.
- List 15 to 25 Real Decisions From the Past Year
A ten-field template for inventorying the decisions a CTO would own, with fifteen common decisions to start from.
- Fit the Mandate on Two Pages
A seven-part structure for a CTO mandate that fits on two pages, with supporting detail kept in the dossier.
- Write the Hiring-Bet Memo Before the Offer
A one-paragraph template that states the evidence, conditions, alternative, risks, and disconfirming signals behind a CTO hire.
- Turn Each Known Risk Into Support and a Signal
A seven-column plan that converts each named hiring risk into prevention or support, an early signal, a review date, and an owner.
- Keep a Light Record of Material Decisions
A record template for material decisions and outcomes, reviewed by sample at 90, 180, and 365 days.