Winning the attention of your talent in 2022
After a tough and challenging 2021 for many teams, let's have a look at the best learnings we have gathered and the themes which (I believe) will grow to an even larger importance in 2022:
Get extra excellent in Candidate Experience (CX)
As the first real introduction to your team and the way you function as a venture, the whole process of attracting the candidates cannot be neglected. Preparation is necessary nowadays for a perfect pitch, on the spot alignment of a person's interests and goals with what the opportunity offers, and (rather essentially) a follow up with a deep dive into the team and the opportunity itself to enable the person to understand in-depth the challenges of the role. And I do not mean sending a generic JD here 🤓 - invent the new ways of attracting the talent both visually and verbally, softly matching their aspirations to what you have to offer. A great match is a win-win match.
Mission (and work-life balance) comes before money, so represent yourself with class
Long gone are the days where a title, location, and salary band will suffice to attract the talent. Arguably, startups need a different kind of talent - the one motivated not by the money, but by the mission and impact. As the creators in any part of the world wish to impact the mind of their followers, so are the creators of the software products who wish to impact the lives of communities they resonate with or humanity at large. The interviews today become a lot more like a pitch to investors, that is to say, they focus on the story, the mission, the why, and the team who makes it happen. Choose your representation wisely with the goal of positioning your venture in the best light as likely you will not have a second chance to make a second impression on your niche.
Stay on target
One hardly will present or position oneself well if the profile of the role is not 100% sharply defined in the minds of each and every person making the hiring decision. By not spreading your attention around and focusing it on the exact target profile you wish to bring you enables you to listen and hear the exact concerns your potential new hires have and thus allows you to address those with due attention and detail. Not defining the role down to the T is the issue Numero 1 for all teams subject to making any hires and is applicable to all the roles from junior to C suite. Follow the flow of defining the target, refining the target, and interviewing the precious few who will bring tremendous value to your venture.
