When you are just starting your business, who you surround yourself with is the key to your success. Which feature should you look for when hiring a new entrepreneur in your primary business and why?
These answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneurs Council (YEC), the only invited organization consisting of the most successful young entrepreneurs in the world. YEC members represent almost every industry, earning billions of dollars each year, and creating thousands of jobs. Learn more at yec.co.
1. Stimulation
I look for motivation to learn and sheer motivation. I am less concerned about the level of experience of new recruits than about their desire to work and whether they bring a positive attitude to their lives and work.
– Lisa Gunn Sutton, Sean City Cupcakes
2. Honesty
Integrity is one of the most important characteristics of any new hire. Starting a new business is like charting an unknown territory. You never know what you’re going to read. This is why you need someone you can trust and rely on. Finding honest people in the beginning will help you build a strong team for next year. Skills and knowledge can be learned over time, but honesty does not.
– Shawn Conrad, my online accounting course
3. Flexibility
It is important to recruit people who are flexible in their roles and are not afraid to increase their skill set. People with flexibility often excel in other skills as well, such as problem solving and critical thinking. Bringing those resources into your business will take it to the next level
– Stephanie Wells, strong form
4. Accountability
There isn’t a feature that ensures a new employer will sink or swim, but any founder knows that you can’t go far without accountability. In many ways, everyone in early-stage startups is a co-founder, so an entrepreneurial lens is paramount. This can mean a lot – self-driving, strategic, etc. With a shared entrepreneurial mindset, you can look for candidates with complementary skills.
– Rang Zhang, tenant
5. Positivity
Look for candidates with a positive attitude. The work environment can change dramatically through the presence of someone with a positive attitude. These types of people help create a healthy work environment and are usually a great addition to the team.
– Josh Kohlbach, wholesale suit
6. Elasticity
Look for a resilient person with big dreams – resilient, because the road to a startup can be rather steep with peaks and holes and big dreams, because a startup can reach its full potential only if you have big dreams and believe in an idea. Having someone by your side who is ready for it and comes out stronger and stronger will lead you to success and growth now and in the future.
– Brian Palace, Opportunity Network
7. Commitment
Repeatedly hiring new people can be a costly affair, considering the time and resources you spend finding the right candidate and then training. But you can save your assets by hiring candidates with commitment and longevity features. For example, a web designer with multiple credentials in the relevant course may show passion for growth and career opportunities.
– Thomas Griffin, Optinmonster
8. Experience
It is important to find someone who has experience working for other startup companies or doing some consulting work. At this stage of your business, you are probably in the process of learning the ropes. Therefore, tagging with someone who can learn and do the job efficiently, add value on a daily basis, and focus on their own growth is essential.
– Candice Georgias, Digital Day
9. Extensive knowledge
I’ll look for a polymath. When your business is in its infancy, it helps to find someone who can work and even explore a wide range of jobs. But that’s not all. That person should not only be willing, but visually interested in helping you innovate the business. Polymaths are also usually team players, so they would be perfect for startups.
– Kyle Goguin, Paostrak
10. A ‘go-getter’ attitude
When you start a new business, there is uncertainty. Since you don’t know if you will get clients and they will like your work, I think it is important to work with those who are excited and ready to face new challenges. They must have a “go-getting” attitude and the ability to learn. So, consider attitudes when hiring someone because their mentality can affect motivation in the workplace.
– Blair Williams, Member Press
