What to look for in first company hire
“The single most important thing to look for in hiring a first employee — or any early employee — is that they love your product and buy into your mission. Any differences in intelligence, experience and communication skills will always be overcome by passion.”
“We each have strengths and weaknesses. Hire your first employee to balance out the things you don't do very well, so it's easier for you to learn to delegate. Hate answering the phone? Find someone who's a charming receptionist. Proposals take you hours every day? Look for a sales contract whiz.”
“If you only focus solely on experience, you are going to be disappointed. Look for potential. Do they possess motivation and have that burning desire to be part of something amazing? That type of individual can be far more valuable to your company than someone that just looks good on paper. I'll take someone that shows potential over someone that only looks good on a resume any day.”
“Aside from experience, the main
attribute to look for in your first hire, especially in a startup, is resourcefulness. You want someone by your side that will be able to figure out situations and problem solve throughout the way. This will make your journey to success a little less stressful.”
“In the initial stages, you'll need someone ready to hold on during the wild ride of building a company. If they've demonstrated a willingness to work hard in past positions, then you can feel secure that they can handle large, small and unexpected tasks.”
PREVIOUS ARTICLE
