Wondering how to hire employees for your startup?
Not finding the best talent for your startup?
Keep reading and we promise to share some of the best methods to find super talented employees for your startups business.
A business is only as good as its people
Isn’t that the saying?
When it comes to growing a startup, this idiom definitely rings true. Before you can take on more clients, attract more attention and reach your next business goal, you have to have the right team.
The challenge? It’s not always easy to find the talent that perfectly fulfills your need. This is especially true in the startup environment, where limited cash flow and manpower make bad hires serious threats.
The thing is, whether your industry is software design or household cleaning services when you’re a startup, you know how hard it is to find the right talent.
With that in mind, here is a look at some of the best tips for finding and attracting skilled employees to your business!
1. Where You Can Find the Best Talent for Your Startup
Step one in finding the right talent is searching for it. The secret? Know where to look. Here are some good ideas:
Training programs
Are you looking for people with specific skills or certifications? Go to the training programs where they get those credentials. The individuals enrolled in those training programs are typically motivated people, looking to gain the skills to get jobs. Catch them at the beginning of their careers, even they’re catching you at the beginning of your business. Then, you can grow together.
Job fairs
As a startup, you might not naturally lean toward large events such as job fairs for attracting talent. However, fairs offer the intense, concentrated connection opportunity you need to find clients. Participating in one allows you to interact with multiple candidates, maximizing the potential for finding good fits.
Colleges and universities
This is a traditional approach, but for good reason. Local colleges are a great place to find new talent. Soon-to-be grads are freshly trained and educated, ready to put their skills to work for you.
Social media
If you’re willing to take the time to do a little digging, social media can be a goldmine of talent. Today’s job seekers know to create accounts—from LinkedIn to Instagram—that highlight their skills and show you more about what they offer.
There, you can find candidates who interest you. Plus, you can search to see their complete digital footprints. Often, this alone will give you helpful insight into the individual’s interests and personality.
Social media can be one of the best platforms to hire talented employees for your startup.
Word of mouth
Talk to everyone you know. See who can recommend someone with the skills you’re seeking. Sometimes, current connections are the perfect tool for finding new hires.
Outside your geographic area
If you’re willing to hire remote employees, you have a lot of benefits to gain. Remote workers manage their own workspaces (lower costs for you) and tend to be happier in their roles. In fact, flexible work is such an asset to employees, it’s a no-cost perk you can use to attract top talent.
2. What To Look For When Recruiting For Startup
As you’re interacting with potential hires and sifting through possibilities for employees, you need some sort of standards to help you qualify talent. For startups, the following characteristics are a great place to start:
Match for your job description
You should never hire someone without knowing what tasks you want him or her to accomplish. To prevent this, set clear, tangible goals and take time to create detailed job descriptions. Without doing so, the right talent won’t even know you’re looking for them.
Match for your company culture
Even if you’re currently a team of one or two, you want to hire someone who will fit your business culture. Take time to get to know potential hires and ensure they will jell with your values, style, etc.
This is often overlooked but it’s an important factor when hiring staff for your startup.
Genuine interest in your company
The more a person likes what your startup offers, the more authentically he or she will be able to promote you.
True fans tend to be more motivated to help a brand succeed, as well as more likely to spread word-of-mouth marketing to friends and family.
Ability to take initiative. In the world of a startup, in order to succeed you need to work with individuals who are self-motivated.
You are unlikely to have multiple bosses or an HR team of professionals to monitor every aspect of the new employee’s life. This is why you need a self-starter. Look for individuals who are driven, focused and able to work independently.
3. Be Attractive
When you’re after top talent, you are competing with plenty of other businesses that want the same thing. This is why you need to make your job offer attractive to prospects. You want to appeal to the potential candidates as much as you want the prospect to appeal to you. Here are some ways you can stand out among employers:
Offer a decent benefits package
You have to offer a competitive salary, insurance, work-life benefits, etc. Make your offer enticing enough that it’s hard for the hires you want to say no.
Provide challenging projects
Talented workers don’t want to be bored. They’re looking for interesting, compelling projects that will capture their attention and grow their skills. When you can offer this, you are instantly more attractive.
Be a great place to work
Nowadays, company culture is a huge consideration for job seekers. People want to work in the kind of reputable company where they’ll find a culture of respect.
You need to ensure that your work culture is such where juniors and seniors go hand in hand. This ensures that you attract potentially talented people for your business.
Be active online
Because a startup has to create an entire brand identity from scratch, being active online is a huge asset. Likewise, you must monitor your brand and who’s talking about it. From a hiring standpoint, it allows you to craft a presence through which prospects can look up and learn about you —crucial for drawing team members who will be right for your brand.
Concluding Thoughts on Recruiting Skilled People for Startups
When it comes to finding the right talent for your startup, it’s worthwhile to take your time and focus on quality.
Finding people who are the right fit for your team means finding employees who can help you grow and, often, stay with you for the long haul.
Take the time to figure out what you need, make your business the kind of place people want to work. The right talent for your startup is out there if you know how to find it.
Recommended Reads:
- 5 Productivity Hacks for Lazy Managers
- 6 Highly Effective Tips to Motivate your Employees
- 11 Best Places to Promote Your Startup
Featured Image Source: Freepik
Author bio: Shanna Mallon is a senior copywriter for Straight North, one of Chicago’s leading professional SEO expert companies that also provides web development and other online marketing services.
