29th October 2021 5 MIN READ •Talos ATS •Hiring Tips
Launching a company is an exciting, but inevitably challenging venture. Startups are known to expand rapidly, often growing from small teams to large communities in a matter of months or years.
For recruiters, this means sourcing compatible candidates quickly in order to build a strong workforce of like-minded individuals. Here we discuss our top recruitment tips for new, start-up companies – helping you attract talent quickly and effectively.
Recruitment tips guide for startups
Recruiting for startups is more challenging than hiring for established companies. Here’s how you optimise your recruitment process to meet the demands of your new, fast-growing business:
#1 – Define your brand’s core values
Before going live with your first recruitment campaign, you need to define your employer brand’s core values. This is essential for attracting the most compatible talent – candidates who share your company’s beliefs and objectives.
What does your company stand for? How will you support your employees to thrive in their careers? These are the first things candidates will consider before applying for your vacancies; it’s vital to make a strong first impression!
Survey your existing colleagues to find out which key values and workplace incentives matter most/least to them. This will identify your company’s Employee Value Proposition (EVP) – your brand’s unique selling point over other employers.
Shout about your workplace culture; promote your employee incentives and cultural values in future job adverts, and across your careers site. This will help you to attract candidates who share your company’s vision, increasing the compatibility of your new recruits.
#2 – Polish your employer brand’s online presence
Candidates WILL do their research before applying to your vacancies. Ensure your employer brand’s online presence reflects the best of your workplace culture, and your team’s shared values.
Use employee testimonials to give potential candidates a window into your day-to-day workplace. Nobody knows your business better than your colleagues; use them as ambassadors for your unique employer brand!
Focus on your careers site, social media channels, and workplace review sites like Glassdoor. A strong employer brand reputation is essential for attracting new talent; make sure your online presence promotes your business as an ‘employer of choice’.
#3 – Streamline hiring with Applicant Tracking Software
Recruitment is a complex process; make life easier for your hiring team by using applicant tracking software (ATS). This will help you to keep on top of even the largest recruitment campaigns, ensuring candidates remain engaged and informed.
Using an ATS allows you to screen, filter, engage, and recruit new talent from one centralised platform. This helps you to achieve efficient in-house recruitment – reducing your reliance on staffing agencies without overwhelming your team.
Streamlining hiring with applicant tracking software also benefits your candidates, giving them a more positive, well-informed recruitment journey. This is essential for getting new recruits off to the best start possible with your brand, setting them up for future success.
#4 – Engage with the next generation of talent
When recruiting for a fresh start-up, you need to keep attrition and retention rates at the front of your mind. This means engaging with the next generation of talent to create a long-term workforce strategy – nurturing future business leaders within your team.
Graduates are a vital asset for any growing workforce. Make sure your opportunities appeal to newer, less experienced professionals as well as more seasoned candidates. Target young talent through social media campaigns, graduate job boards, and by building relationships with local colleges/universities.
Reduce potential ‘barriers to entry’ for less experienced candidates. Be sure to highlight your company’s learning and development initiatives, and focus less on ‘essential’ experience/qualification requirements. This will ensure that less seasoned candidates feel confident in applying to your vacancies, and starting their career with your business.
#5 – Recruit sustainably – make long-term retention a priority!
Recruitment for startups needs to be ‘sustainable’, focusing on long-term staff retention and employee engagement. This means attracting candidates who will stick with your business for the long-run, and add creative value to your workforce.
Your best bet is to find candidates who share your company’s unique culture and values. For example, if your business is centred around a collaborative workplace model, you’ll need to attract candidates who thrive in a teamwork environment. Candidates who work best independently will likely clash with your workplace culture, making them less likely to stick with you for the long term.
Try surveying candidates to gauge their compatibility with your day-to-day workplace culture. For example, what drives them to succeed in their roles, and what holds them back? Are there any key incentives they expect to be given in return for their hard work and loyalty?
This will highlight which candidates align with your workplace values, and which are likely to clash with your core working model. Candidates’ cultural compatibility plays a huge part in their long-term success and retention – make sure you’re taking this into account when screening, interviewing, and selecting new recruits!
Introducing…
Talos ATS: The easiest all-in-one recruitment platform
Want to make hiring easier? Talos ATS is our all-in-one solution for in-house recruitment, providing all the tools you need to manage even the largest hiring campaigns.
The platform combines intuitive applicant tracking software with culture-match surveys and advertising tools – forming the ultimate 360-degree talent acquisition solution.
Recruiting for startups can be a challenge – but with Talos, the job becomes a whole lot easier! Save time, cut costs, and make hiring more enjoyable for your colleagues and candidates.
Talos ATS includes:
- Next-generation Applicant Tracking System
- Multi-platform job-poster
- Automated progression of your strongest applicants
- Recruitment advertising suite
- Video screening and interview platform
- SMS/email update automation for candidates
- Remote onboarding tools
Discover an easier way to manage hiring – save time and cut costs with Talos ATS:
