How start-ups can hire the right employees

Great companies are built by world-class teams. Make sure you're hiring the right people, advises Tech in Asia

There’s no doubt that the journey to be a successful entrepreneur and build a world-class company starts from the idea. But no start-up is a one-man show. For companies to truly make it big and leave behind a lasting legacy, it’s pivotal to invest in and build world-class teams. Finding the right team is easier said than done. One of the biggest mistakes a start-up founder can make, especially in the early stages of the company, is to hire the wrong person. Don’t hire for the sake of hiring, or because you’re desperate to fill the position. Here are five qualities you should look to find in a candidate before making them an offer.

Passion

As a CEO, it is undoubtedly your passion for solving problems which compelled you to dive into the murky waters of entrepreneurship. But you need your employees to be as motivated as yourself. How do you understand whether a prospective candidate shares the same passion as you do? One way is to analyse the level of interest they show during the interview. Are they asking probing questions? Are they curious to uncover the start-ups’ medium-term plan? 
 

Creativity

Your start-up is solving a problem, which is why it exists in the first place and has enough money to hire. But what if the approach towards solving that problem isn’t necessarily the most effective or frictionless? Astute and smart employees can foresee when a business might need to alter its approach – and how best to position it within the competitive landscape.

Scanning through an applicant’s CV should give an idea of how they’ve dealt with solving problems in the past. 

This is an excerpt from Tech in Asia. You can read the full article here.