One of the hardest things to accomplish for any business is hiring the right people. However, for startups, it is critical. A startup may not be able to recover from their bad hires as quickly as an established company. Let’s face it; a startup may not be able to recover at all from bad hires, just from budget and time factors alone. In many cases, clearly, the company with the best team on the field generally wins.
When hiring new employees, typically hiring managers look to hire folks with knowledge, skills, and abilities in a particular field. Startups are no different. They are looking for these same things and more in their new hires.
In addition to employees having knowledge, skills, and abilities, successful startups need employees that share their same vision, have an entrepreneurial spirit, “salesmanesque” attitudes, and who are technology savvy.
1. Why should startups look for employees with the same vision?
No startup is easy. Building a thriving company will take time, so finding employees that share in your vision is very important. When the going gets tough, it may mean that these folks are willing to stick it out longer than most because they believe in the importance of the business and share your visions for its need to succeed. It may also mean that they won’t just give into complacency and the frustrations of starting something new; that they will work through adversity and may find challenge in doing so.
2. Why should startups look for employees who have an entrepreneurial spirit?
Research shows that people who have entrepreneurial tendencies share three characteristics: perseverance, confidence, and integrity. All three of these traits are important to successfully starting a business. Employees with perseverance are very important because perseverance equates to drive and commitment. Drive and commitment are key components in someone being able to stick with the plan of success you have created. They also come in handy when the hours become long and the work becomes tedious and boring.
Secondly, the actions from being confident in oneself and abilities are extremely important in startups. Confidence relates to independence, self-reliance, and assurance. In startups, employees that are able to wear many hats are considered assets.
Finally, in today’s business climate where everyone is on guard to avoid being scammed, it is crucial to ensure employees are honest when dealing with clients, contractors, and suppliers on your behalf.
3. What are “salesmanesque attitudes” and why are they important?
In layman’s terms, “salesmanesque attitudes” deal with the ability to communicate effectively and gain useful knowledge and resources through face-to-face networking to help the business succeed. You need to find someone with extroverted personality traits who likes being around others and can talk up the business to anyone and everyone that will listen. This type of employee will love the early morning coffee meetings and the after hour wine bar soirees just so they can continue talking up the business.
4. Why should startups look for employees that are technology savvy?
We no longer live in a world that is limited by communicating through direct contact, telephone, email, and print media. We now have so many social media outlets that it is impossible to name them all, but a few of the most popular are Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and Twitter. Startups wanting to get on board quickly need to find as many cost-effective marketing outlets as possible. Hiring employees that have a profile and a working knowledge in marketing, social media, blogging, and web-based advertising can be a saving grace.
Additionally, having someone around with knowledge in multiple office software programs that understands and knows how to navigate a spreadsheet is not a bad idea. Other important technologies to know are the newer devices such as smartphones and iPads/tablets.
Startups require an investment in time, energy, and resources. While hiring a world-class team that embodies that hard work philosophy will not guarantee its success, it will help its forward progress.
Are you interested in working for a startup? What skills do you think you bring to the table?