5 ways to attract top talent to your start-up...

by Startacus Admin

Who better to share their thoughts on this matter than Rajeeb Dey, founder of Enternships.com.  He explains the importance of sharing your passion and developing an ‘employer brand’....

Whether your idea has landed an angel, is run out of a cupboard or still remains just an idea, you’re the most passionate person in the world about that idea. You work harder than anyone else in the universe on what you do, because you believe in it, identify with it and want it to succeed.

The key to building a great team is realising that your passion, hard work and belief in your idea are enormously contagious among the right people. Finding those people and becoming an employer are difficult processes; but by radiating your excitement and building a brand that has intelligent and interesting people clamouring to work for you, you’ll soon be having more fun, working more efficiently and drinking much more tea.

1. Follow your gut

Recruitment for start-ups is more of an art than a science; but that’s not to say there aren’t some rules. As a young entrepreneur, no-one sat me down and told me the rights and wrongs of recruitment, but some people can forget the obvious: such as ‘work with people you get on with’.

When I’ve needed new expertise, I’ve brought in people that had that expertise: I’ve certainly never worked to a recruitment timetable. All the people that currently work for me I either met at networking events or I hired after they made themselves indispensable while doing an internship with me.

2. Share your passion

Building a team to support your ideas, vision and passion is fun – but time consuming. The sheer amount of paperwork associated with taking on a member of staff makes hiring that bit more onerous. But hire you must; as even the most energetic entrepreneurs have limits.

Start-ups do not need big recruitment budgets or HR departments to attract top talent, but it is important that you develop a brand that people will be attracted to. Make sure you convey your brand values: What does your company stand for? Why is your company exciting? What are you going to achieve? Why would they want to work for you?

3. Plan for growth

If you are currently thinking about taking on additional people, think about the skills you have and the skills you need. Then think about where you want to get to by making the hire.

Does it make sense to take on a full-time member of staff, when outsourcing work might deliver faster and more cost-effective results? Take your time to make sure the person you have in mind shares your ethos, rather than hiring someone who just wants a job.

4. Seek complementary characters

I often advise entrepreneurs to hire staff who possess outstanding patience. I can easily be struck with an idea late evening and, by the time I get to the office the next morning, I’ve got a whole new concept that I eagerly want to get implemented that day; and take to market that evening.

This hardly ever sits well with technology development schedules, as I’ve learned from the look in my developer’s eyes when I unveil my latest grand idea. Hire people with the strength of character to keep you focused on the overall vision (and the courage to say no to you at times!) but also staff that can translate your ideas into action.

5. Be the boss

I want to take my business into every territory possible and to turn my company into a market leader; but I can’t do that simply by flying around the world. It’s only with my team that we’ll get there. The responsibility of the business owner is to set the framework, hire good people and then trust and support them to succeed together. Every entrepreneur, no matter how early-stage your business is, should think about developing an employer brand which top talent will aspire to be a part of.

Rajeeb Dey is the founder and CEO of enternships.com, a portal that connects start ups and SMEs with top talent.


Thank you Rajeeb for your words of wisdom on building a team. What are your thoughts? Do you think you need a good team around you or is it possible to go it alone? Why not head over to the forum where we're asking this very question... 

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Published on: 20th July 2012