A Facebook exec explains why she doesn't hire 'the smartest person in the room' — and the questions she asks to weed them out

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• Facebook employees succeed if they have a drive to learn, according toVP of HR Janelle Gale.

• When she's interviewing candidates, she's typically less impressed with people who already consider themselves to be the "smartest person in the room."

• Rather, she's looking for individuals who display intellectual curiosity.

Facebook employees are learners. That's why the most important trait VP of HR Janelle Gale looks for in job candidates is curiosity.

"We look for learners, people who are acquainted to learning fast, are intellectually curious, and constantly looking to expand their knowledge," she told Business Insider. "They're actively seeking feedback and they're open to it."

And, as with any company, hiring the right people is crucial to helping Facebook maintain its culture.

"There's just so much to learn here, no matter if you're an entry level college graduate or if you're top in your field," she said. "Cockiness does not work."

So how does Facebook weed out the know-it-alls? Gale said she'll often ask follow-up questions about projects the individual has worked on, like "What would you have done differently?" or "What did you learn in the process?"

"If someone hesitates for a really long time and can't come up with an answer, or if they spin it so that what they learned actually makes them look good, that tells me that they are closed off to learning," she said.

What she wants from the candidate is a level of vulnerability and reflection, as well as a strong demonstration of intellectual curiosity.