Here are 5 steps every startup should take to kickstart the recruiting process:
1. Track ALL interactions with candidates
Obviously the hope is that you’ll be drowning in an influx of applications, but whether you’re talking to three or three hundred candidates, you should keep your interactions organized. While most larger organizations will utilize full-blown applicant tracking systems (think Taleo, Jobvite, Resumator, etc.), startups don’t always have the budget to afford these systems. However, that isn't an excuse to avoid tracking candidates altogether- there are some great low-cost alternatives that every Startup should take a look at:
Having information at your fingertips while engaging with candidates will not only make the process easier for you, but it will allow you to be efficient and thorough in a way that will set you apart from other recruiters. Bottom line: keep track of your recruiting efforts in a formulaic and streamlined manner.
2. Post to free/low cost job boards
Doing so will give you a stream of candidates right off the bat. Some of the job boards we've seen others have success with include:
Although this obvious statement may instigate an eye-roll, make sure that what you are posting to the job boards sets you apart; you’ll be competing for the attention of candidates with many other startups.
3. Leverage yours and your company’s networks
More times than not, new hires end up coming from within your own extended network. In order to widen your pipeline from the start, you should reach out to every engineer you know. Most likely, they'll be happily employed, but engaging with them face-to-face will enable you to gain a significant amount of industry insight and strengthen ties within your network. By telling them what you’re looking for, they will then be able to refer people in their own networks to you, significantly widening your candidate pool.
Connecting to applicants through references from personal relationships will dramatically increase your likelihood of a candidate response, making your interaction with the prospective candidate much warmer than for others.
4. Get your team and advisors involved in the recruiting process
Chances are you won’t be the one spending the most time with the person who fills the position. By bringing in members of the company who will be working closest with them, you’ll be able to get insight into the “fit” of the candidate with the position. After all... you are hiring people that will hopefully be with you for the long haul, not units of labor.
Synergy is key to the success of any team; your colleagues will be able to advise you on how the candidates’ abilities will compliment their objectives. Have your engineers check out their LinkedIn profiles, code on Github or portfolios on Dribbble or Behance. Even get them working side-by-side on a small project. Get everyone involved to see how the candidate fits with your team's culture.
5. Kickstart your proactive recruiting process
In an ideal world, you could sit back and expect the applications to start rolling in. But unfortunately, maximizing the number of applicants who enter your pipeline isn’t a passive process. Develop a smart system that finds highly targeted people whose skills and experience level match the job requirements.
Know what you're looking for in prospective candidates then start searching on Linkedin or Google for candidates with the relevant experience. You can find interesting projects on Github or Hacker News and reach out to the people involved via Linkedin, Twitter or email if you have it. Additionally, you can always use an automated sourcing tool, such as Entelo (yes, that's a shameless plug :) ), which can save you significant time finding and engaging with amazing talent.
Do your homework on each candidate early on, and personalize your outreach to each candidate; your message to them will stand out in the sea of recruiters that are constantly drowning their inboxes and you'll prevent wasting time down the road. Give them a reason to engage with you!