When hiring a new employee for your startup, it is vital that you recruit the very best talent. In large organisations, it can be easier for employees to hide and although they may fulfill the requirements of their role, they won’t drive the business forward.
In a startup, this type of employee won’t work; you simply can’t afford to hire staff who are only there to collect their pay cheque. There are certain attributes to look out for when making hiring decisions for your startup, to ensure you recruit the top talent.
1 – Look for a self-starter
Startups usually won’t have the resources or the money to hold a new recruit’s hand, so it is imperative that you choose someone who is a self-starter and able to work on their own initiative. If you need to constantly micro manage a new recruit, it simply won’t work and your startup will ultimately suffer as a result.
2 – Get someone experienced or pay the price later
Many startups make the mistake of taking on employees who perhaps don’t have a lot of experience, just because they are a cheaper option. However, this is a huge error to make and could affect the success of your business. Whether you are hiring temporary workers, agency workers or permanent employees, it is imperative that they have experience within your industry. This will help ensure they won’t need a lot of training, but instead, they will just get on with the job and hit the ground running.
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3 – A good recruit will be innovative
A startup can benefit hugely from hiring individuals who are not afraid to come up with new ideas to help improve the business. In a relatively small company, it is important that everyone can work together and that your new recruit wants to help the business become a success. Unlike larger, established companies, startups have the danger of failing before they succeed and hiring innovative individuals can help ensure this doesn’t happen.
4 – Have the drive to succeed
Startups need individuals who will be willing to get involved in many tasks, aside from their day to day job and this kind of drive is important in ensuring the business is successful. If an employee is unmotivated and lacks any real passion for your business, it can have a negative effect on your business. Not only this, but it could easily bring other people down at the same time.
With a startup, you should look at hiring someone who has plenty of drive and an entrepreneurial spirit. You can find this out during the interview by asking what motivates them and who inspires them. If they are motivated by success and admire individuals who have also built up their own business, this can be a good indicator that they will be an important hire for your startup.
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5 – Be flexible
The nature of startups is a lot different from larger organisations, as a high degree of flexibility is required. As you build the business, you may have to go the extra mile for customers and this may mean working later or earlier to meet their demands. A startup can’t afford to turn any business away, so hiring someone who is flexible, is essential for success.
Remember, your employees are your most valuable asset.
About Author:
A professionally qualified Civil Engineer with 10 years’ experience in the construction sector and 10 years of frustration sourcing temporary staff for my projects. In 2015 I decided to shake up the temporary recruitment market and provide employers with an intuitive platform to not only alleviate the headaches of temporary staffing, but also provide a fast, cost effective and transparent recruitment service – TempAuction
