You know how flowers grow from seeds and can only grow if their needs which vary from one stage of growth to another are met? Tech startups and scale-ups follow the same principle: they reach successive stages of growth with the amount of people they hire. This means that hiring priorities depend on the growth … Read more
I think it’s a matter of “when” not “if” to have AI or non-AI tools that can source and screen profiles well enough. What will be a human’s role in sourcing then? The answer is to guide and plan the search strategically. But how do we do sourcing planning now? Most of the time, the … Read more
As raising funding is consistently challenging, and VCs have been warning startups since 2022, many founders’ first instinct is to start cutting costs. And that’s understandable. In these times, you cannot afford to make mishires. Or even mediocre hires. But how do you make sure it’s the right hire for your company? You probably have a hiring plan … Read more
I’m pretty sure that you were stuck in the following situation at least once in your work life: you invite a candidate whose skills and personality look great on paper for an interview. But soon after you sit across from each other, you realize that the conversation is draining your energy! I found out that … Read more
Bias in recruitment is a touchy subject. In a team, recruiters are the ones who are the most familiar with how slippery the slope is towards acquiring biased opinions. They occur more often than not, particularly in interviews where less experienced interviewers have to assess a candidate. In a way, it makes sense how biases … Read more
Picture this: you’re hanging out with someone and they’re starting to grow on you. The conversation is flowing, and there’s just something about them that feels right. Is it too soon to ask that question? You know, the one that’s been nagging at the back of your mind: “Hey, do you want to be in … Read more
Lately, the startup and scale-up ecosystem has been buzzing with talks about “candidate journey.” The reason for that buzz is that businesses have started changing their approach towards hiring processes. Maybe you have noticed this as well: while many Founders and hiring managers of smaller businesses tend to think of recruitment as a procedure which … Read more
With another year in the rearview mirror, 2023 is like an open road: empty at first, with some flashing road signs popping up every now and there, but we don’t know where the road is taking us precisely – as of yet. So, what can we do about it? The keyword is ‘balance’: Balancing out … Read more
This year, startups and scale-ups are thinking differently about their talent strategy. From workplace values to the latest technology, startups and scale-ups are finding new ways to leverage their assets and fulfil their hiring needs. As predicted last year, the war for talent is here. With a tight labour market, people prioritizing their work-life balance, … Read more
To save some valuable time, you can start recruiting long before you get your investment in and you sign the term sheet. Many years ago, I was COO at an Amsterdam startup. We were closing a $1.5M round and were working 80-hour weeks. Getting investors on board is hard work for many months. The last … Read more
