Many people assume that working for a startup is just the same as working for any other company. However, startups operate much differently than bigger, established companies. Whether it’s requiring employees to hold more than one role, be able to troubleshoot independently or maintain flexibility at work, startups often require new hires to have a variety of skills in order for that employee to succeed in the workplace.
However, it can be extremely difficult to know which qualities match startup life without actually committing to work at one. To help both businesses and job seekers discover what qualities are needed, without someone signing on the dotted line, six members of YEC Next share some of the traits they believe are most important for startup new hires to have. Here’s what they look for:
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.
1. Passion
We like to have people on our team who are passionate about what they do. We want to know what motivates you. I personally like asking questions such as “What is it that you like about this job?” That way, I can get to know their aspirations better and what they are bringing into the business. Passionate people create a happy and productive workplace. When people love what they do, they do not feel like it is work. At a small company, a passionate person has the opportunity to learn a wide variety of things and roles. At a larger company, a passionate person might get lost in the mix and not have the opportunity to explore outside their specific requirements and duties. – Jessica Baker, Aligned Signs
2. Adaptability
We look for candidates who are adaptive: That’s a crucial trait that we keep an eye out for in our hires. Startups are fast-evolving environments and it is important for team members to be willing to step outside the comfort zone of narrowly defined roles, take on varying challenges, and adjust or even redefine their position. – David Barlev, Goji Labs
3. Willingness To Take Risks
Risk taking is a must for being successful. The startups that condone risks typically don’t seek employees with just guts. Because mistakes are a natural byproduct of risks, smart employers seek candidates who can learn from the mistakes associated with risks and, most importantly, improve. The faster the process, the quicker the improvements. The companies that have built the top products or services — think Apple, Tesla, Bridgewater, etc. — have leaders who have influenced their employees to follow the process of taking risks, learning from them and then improving, regardless of if it was product or service based. This process is iterative, and the quicker one can learn from mistakes and move forward, the quicker the product or service development will build, which equates to quicker scaling. – Ron Lieback, ContentMender
4. Attention to detail
Attention to detail is a crucial quality in our hires. Most startups have a hiring process that filters through less attentive applicants quickly. A detail-oriented person will stand out simply because they followed instructions. – Matt Bigach, Nexus Homebuyers
5. Proactive Attitude
In a startup environment, there will be a lot of early quirks that need to be fixed as the company grows. Every employee needs to have a mindset that allows them to troubleshoot without having to constantly seek help from management. Due to the lack of fully structured teams in place to tackle everyday issues that may arise, employees need to be able to take initiative to manage what they are responsible for with minimal guidance. Management is usually too busy focusing on the bigger picture to help each employee with their simple problems. Proactive employees are a great help in such an environment because they are efficient, out-of-the-box thinkers for the most part. They are also more creative and might be able to help management solve other problems with a creative flare. – Ajmal Saleem, Suprex Learning
6. Focus For Efficiency
You need to be able to quickly prioritize what needs to get done and focus on that objective until completion while still making sure the rest of the trains are on time. A major key to handling this smoothly is by keeping everything organized and using shortcuts to move around quickly. As simple as it may seem, make sure your document folders are structured easily, and use browser bookmarks, keyboard shortcuts and anything else to speed up your workflow without sacrificing your effectiveness below an acceptable level for your company. It’s easy to get lost in busyness, then a few months go by and you’re falling behind on your goals. Revisit your objectives often to make sure you’re making an impact rather than just 10% progress in 10 different areas with nothing getting completed. – Todd Giannattasio, Tresnic Media
