Each year throughout the country college hiring committees are charged with the task of filling countless numbers of vacant job positions. In theory, by utilizing the expertise of the committee members and working through an equitable process, the brightest and best people available are offered positions at the colleges. The reality of the hiring process though is quite a different story. This article takes a closer look at the truth behind the hiring process and explores how colleges really hire. It discusses the role of influential and powerful people, the influence of unions, the concerted effort to search for minority candidates, the decision to hire from within the institution or to seek candidates from outside, and other critical factors that directly impact on the hiring process. The article illustrates how an unfair and biased hiring process can have serious consequences for the college, its employees, and students. Based upon his experience at over a dozen colleges the author concludes that even if the best candidate is not always selected, it is paramount that the college provide as fair a hiring process as is humanly possible in order to ensure that the needs of the students are met and the institution and its vision survive.