In 1994, Brian Scudamore fired his entire 11-person company. "I realized that I didn't have the right people," the CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK tells CNBC. "I had to clean house and start again." Since, his junk removal service company has grown to 400 employees, operates in 180 metros and makes more than $200 million in annual revenue. Scudamore credits his success to finding the right people. He says: "We're in the junk removal business. We take ordinary businesses like junk removal and make them exceptional through customer experience. The only competitive advantage we really have besides our brand is finding great people, so that's the one secret sauce to our business that we always attempt to get right."

Brian Scudamore and his employees Courtesy of O2E Brands

That's where the "beer and barbecue" hiring test comes in. It originated after Scudamore cleaned house in 1994. "One of the things I realized that day was that I wasn't enjoying working with these people," he says, so when he started re-hiring, he made it a point to ask himself, "Would I have a beer with this person? Would I have them over for a barbecue?"

I want people, as friends and as employees, that are ambitious and driven and have a zest for life. Brian Scudamore CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK

Scudamore draws a parallel between hiring great people and finding great friends: "You don't sit there and make a checklist and go ask interview questions [when finding friends]. You just get to know someone in a casual environment like you would over maybe a beer, and you trust your gut. "Do you like this person? Do you find them interesting? Are they asking you questions? Are they a likable person? And do they have a passion for something? "I know that I want people, as friends and as employees, that are ambitious and driven and have a zest for life."