When is the best time to start hiring? Who are the best fits? Where do you find suitable profiles?
These are the questions every entrepreneur asks once he/she has to start hiring for the start-up. A start-up means-long working hours, less pay as compared to big firms and a whole lot of passion.
So how do you pick your first set of workforce?
- Don’t start filling in high profile positions. You can leave that for later. Of course, this varies from company to company, industry to industry and based on the expertise you are looking for. High profiles, in the beginning, will pinch a lot as they come with big salary packages.
- Outsourcing or hiring freelancers will also help, especially if the job doesn’t have anything to do with the core area of business which will require a full-time employee. This will save you the burden of employee benefits or perks and you can create a database of promising freelancers who you can retain for a long time.
- Stay away from long resumes. The people who have a lot of work experience, especially in big companies will not only demand a higher salary but will also no be able to adjust to the spontaneity of a startup. Startups will require people with a temperament that embraces sudden transitions, problems like lack of resources & privileges and flexibility in work culture.Startups are less officious and follow the open-door policy. Someone who is assertive & who obliges only in an authoritative environment doesn’t belong to start-up environment.
- Referrals and recommendations are ideal for startups. Hence, networking is important to them. When you are new in the business circle, recommendations from trusted friends and family are the safest bet. Also, employee recommendations work wonders. The employees will recommend only those who they think fit the work culture and the profile the best. They will do so cautiously so as to not sully their reputation in the company.
