Hiring for Startups

Startups just need two things to succeed—a dream and a dream team to see it through—right? While these are the exciting parts of launching your startup, you also need experts behind the scenes that make sure your business operations run smoothly. After all, even the speediest racecar drivers would get nowhere without their trusty pit crew.

In the world of business, that pit crew is your human resources team. Talent acquisition, legal compliance, pay structures, time off, and so many more essential tasks get done thanks to HR professionals.

But resources are tight, especially for startups. What can you do if you can’t allocate enough resources for a fully equipped HR team? Fortunately, you don’t have to let any of those essential tasks fall through the cracks. With outsourced HR for startups, you can partner with a third-party service provider to fill roles on your team for a fraction of the cost—without sacrificing quality. In this blog, we’ll take a close look at the hiring process for startups and how outsourced HR services can help you attract and retain top talent.

How Do Startups Hire?

The main challenge that startups face when hiring compared to more established businesses is that startups present a risky opportunity to job seekers. Startups are early in their growth cycle, which often comes with some baggage, such as:

• New business plan
• Unproven product or service
• Inconsistent funding

To recruit the best talent, you’re not just competing with other startups, you’re also competing with established corporations. Fortunately, you can also use being a startup to your advantage. Here’s how:

• Emphasize your mission. You started your business to push the envelope. Connect with job seekers who also want to be at the forefront of innovation.
• Communicate the ability that job seekers have to make a true impact on their place of work. As an early team member, they’ll play a significant role in shaping the future of your startup.
• Back up your exciting job postings with financial compensation. If you can’t compete on salary, think of how you can sweeten the deal with equity and benefits like paid time off.

Your hiring process is vital to setting up your startup for success. Partner with Milestone to make sure you get it right—the first time. 

Where Do Startups Hire From?

Startups hire from the same pool of talent as any other company in the same industry. That includes other startups, established industry giants, and everyone in between. One way to differentiate yourself from the competition is how you connect with potential job seekers.

One way you can cut through the noise is by going directly to the source. Attending college job fairs can help you connect with energetic professionals who are eager to prove themselves and make a difference in the world.

Of course, it’s still helpful to have an online presence on job listing sites like Indeed. However, everyone is posting on these platforms. Personal connections go a long way, and recruiters can help you make those connections with job seekers. Fortunately, talent acquisition is a key feature of outsourced HR services.

What Does a Startup Recruiter Do?

Startup recruiters source qualified candidates to respond to your job postings. Recruiters give your business a proactive role in meeting staffing needs. Rather than reacting to interest in your listings, recruiters initiate contact with potential candidates. Another advantage of recruiters is that they help vet candidates, so only highly qualified individuals make it to the interview stage. 

How Do I Create a Startup Hiring Plan?

Use this basic outline to kickstart your startup hiring plan:

• Determine which roles you need to fill to meet your business goals.
• Analyze market rates for the roles you need to fill.
• Set your budget for each role (including salary, equity, and benefits packages).
• Create and post job listings online.
• Work with recruiters to make lasting connections.
• Conduct interviews.
• Make hiring decisions.
• Onboard new hires.

One quick way to fill in the details is to work with a third-party HR consulting for start up services provider. Contact us today to see how Milestone can help!

How Do I Hire an Employee for a Startup?

When deciding which employee to hire, follow these tips for narrowing down your selection:

• Culture matters. Hire someone who can get the job done and work well with your team.
• Invest in your future. Who’s on your team early in your business’s life will have a significant impact on your path going forward.
• Do your due diligence. Recruitment vetting, background checks, and hard-hitting interview questions are great ways to identify small misalignments that could grow into major problems down the line. 

How To Build a Team for Your Business

The most effective way to build a team for your startup business is to partner with an outsourced HR services provider. This will allow you to rely on recruiters who are experts in the startup space, so they know the best way to connect with potential candidates and get them excited to join your team.

Building Your Dream Team Made Easy with Milestone

When it comes to finding success with your startup, building your dream team is one endeavor you don’t want to leave up to chance. But if you have limited resources (and let’s face it, pretty much all startups do), it can feel like you have to settle for less. With Milestone, you don’t have to.

Contact us today to see how our experts can recruit and retain top talent in your industry.