One of the key challenges of growing a startup is hiring. In my two years of running TestVagrant I felt that hiring remained one of our biggest challenge. Every Saturday since the time we started this company (we 3 co-founders) meet for a coffee. We ideate on the growth, vision, challenges and the focus for the coming week. I believe hiring always remained there in the list !
We are 14 right now and we are still looking for more. We have filtered around more than 400 resumes, close to 150 face to face interviews and then we selected bunch of folks who are working with us. I have been doing interviews since 2007, so when I reflect at the hiring process, I feel there is not much change with respect to how you give interview. Largely the process of giving interview remained the same. To a certain extent the reason could be that what we ask in interview hasn’t changed.
Hiring for an established company is totally different than hiring for a start up. When we are hiring for start up, there are certain key skills we are looking for in the candidate apart from the technical skills and communication skill they need to possess to succeed in the job.
Here are few of them which I primarily look for -
- attitude & aptitude — While interviewing lot of folks I felt they treat job as just another job and not really see that as an opportunity to learn and improve. Some show positive outlook and confidence while answering the questions, and some bullshit. Some look forward to the opportunity and give their best while lot maintain very causal outlook. The best way to find the attitude is by having them solve a problem. Let the approach, strategy and direction speak for itself.
- desire to learn — I often find people so engrossed in their day to day work that they are almost outdated. They have very less clue of what is happening outside their company walls. I have heard many crave that they want to learn, they are willing to learn. But when you ask them what they have learnt in last 3 months perhaps they will not have anything to share. They blame their work hours and having no time on hand to learn. Unless a person shows interest in himself how can I show interest in him. I don’t expect everyone to be genius or great, the expectation is that they should have a hunger to learn.
- humility — I believe that when someone joins a start up, there is lot of expectations in terms of running up fast and start delivering. since the environment is little un-settled there is a chance that people would make mistakes. We look for people who makes mistakes and admit it. Making mistakes is a part of learning and experimenting. Acknowledge it, learn from it and move forward. Just don’t repeat mistakes, that is annoying.
Points made above are my suggestions to folks who are actually applying for a job in start up. Also don’t be hesitant about sharing your expectation from the job, this helps the employers understand your point of view and makes the interview discussion more enriching and engaging.
Happy Reading ….
Please feel free to reach out to me on nishant@testvagrant.com
