5 Tips to Evaluate Candidates for your Startup
Undoubtedly, one of the most critical aspects of building a startup is to hire the right people. This may be easier said than done, especially in today’s market. However, it’s important to find the right team when building a company that will last. Here are a few tips to help you evaluate potential candidates:
Perform background checks
One way to find out about the integrity and reliability of new candidates is to perform background checks on them. The background check process can help you know if potential hires are telling the truth and allow you to find out about some questionable situations in their past. This way, you can determine if they’re the kind of people you want on your team.
While some may feel like a background check could be invasive, you want to be sure you’re hiring people with the type of people with integrity that you want in your company.
Ask for references
If you want to get a first-hand account of how reliable the potential candidates are, ask for references. You can include this as a staple of your startup’s hiring process or request it once you meet people you’re seriously considering.
Make sure you take input from references with a grain of salt, as employers are also humans who may have biases. That said, the right references can give you an idea of the candidate’s work ethic and other potential issues.
Connect with your network
You may have connections in your industry who may know the best person for the job, so ask around. If you trust the word of your connections, chances are that they could recommend some great candidates fit for the job. Personal recommendations can sometimes be the best place to find candidates for the job.
Along with asking your connections for suggestions, you can also attend networking events to find some great options for your startup team. This is especially beneficial in the world of startups, where you want to attract the best talent possible to succeed in your specific industry.
Speak to new employees about suggestions
Maybe you’ve recently hired some incredible talent. These may be people you trust and rely on, and perhaps you still have some spaces to fill for your startup. Don’t hesitate to ask your new employees if they have any recommendations on strong candidates who are looking for jobs. You never know what you’ll find when reaching out to your circle of friends and professional networks.
Check out reputable hiring networks
There are plenty of websites where you can post about the job openings you have, whether you’re building a tech startup or creating vegan eggs. You’ll find that these sites help make the process much easier compared to browsing various places and selecting candidates. Instead, these sites do the hard work for you.
However, some are better than others. Make sure to make your job posting as in-depth as possible so you only appeal to potential candidates with the qualities you’re looking for. There are plenty of hiring networks to choose from. Don’t be afraid to search for the best hiring tool for you.
In Conclusion
Being a hiring manager is no easy task, but the team you build will make a difference in the success of your startup. More than almost anything else, it’s important to take time deciding on the right people for your company. From background checks to an in-depth screening process, it’s wise to pay attention to the type of people you’ll end up hiring.
They can make or break your business and reputation, so go slow and make sure you’re hiring the people who will help propel your startup forward.
