If your startup needs to fill a specific position, first review your options for sourcing those skills. If you decide to recruit externally, then you have a number of recruitment methods to consider.
To identify where and how best to post your job, think about how people in different professions look for jobs. It’s prudent to place your job posting a number of different ways to attract the best applicants, especially for highly specialized or scarce, leading-edge technical skills.
Always advertise any current openings on your startup’s website. However, because this is a somewhat passive approach, it should be used in conjunction with other tools.
Applicants can be sourced using a variety of resources, including:
The most appropriate recruiting strategies will depend on a number of factors. Consider the following key points.
Generally, the more technical or specialized the job, the wider you must expand your search. Competition is fierce for these skills, with larger, more established companies able to provide lucrative compensation and benefits packages.
Startups, however, can offer candidates some advantages, including the excitement of being part of the early stages of an emerging enterprise. Incorporate your company’s vision and story into your job posting to attract interest from qualified risk-takers who fit your company culture.
During the recruiting process, determine how far and wide you’ll need to cast your net. If it seems unlikely you will find candidates locally, decide whether you need to recruit regionally, nationally or internationally.
Sometimes advertising is free, and sometimes it can cost thousands of dollars. Search and recruiting fees can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. Establish a budget based on how much can you afford and what you feel is needed to invest to attract the right candidates.
Establish how urgent the recruitment is. If you needed someone yesterday, you may be forced to engage the most expensive, direct recruitment methods.
Understand where qualified candidates will be looking. Is it online, through niche or mainstream media, or through personal networks? Determine where you will find these candidates. Perhaps your ideal hires don’t yet know they want a new job. If this is the case, plan how you will seek these candidates out.