Is Your Startup Doomed? The Hiring Habits That Can Make or Break You

Starting a successful startup isn’t just about having a unique idea—it’s about building the right team from day one. The moment you choose your first team member, everything changes. Suddenly, you’re not the only one making key decisions, and the line between success and failure becomes razor-thin.

It’s all about your team.

Here’s the simple truth: Good people = Better results. It’s a straightforward equation, but the challenge lies in execution.

The Harsh Reality of Hiring for Startups

Finding top-notch talent isn’t easy. Behind the scenes, hiring is more than just interviews and offer letters. It demands time, money, energy, and effort—resources that are already stretched thin in a startup.

Consider this:

• Time: On average, a founder spends around 25% of their workweek on hiring tasks (Harvard Business Review).
• Money: The average Australian employer spends about $8,000 and 24 days to hire a new worker (Glassdoor).

Now, imagine investing all that only to end up with a “mediocre” or poor fit. That’s when your startup inches closer to failure.

The Urgency of Execution in Startups

Startups need to execute fast. It’s not about working 70-hour weeks, but about getting things done—every day, every week, every month. In the early days, when you’re still figuring out product-market fit, your team needs to:

• Act fast, fail faster, and get better.
• Learn, unlearn, and adapt to a fast-paced environment.
• Handle unexpected challenges and dynamics with ease.

Does that sound intense? It is. That’s the reality of startup life, and not everyone can handle it. Mediocre doesn’t mean lacking intelligence; even smart people can be mediocre if they’re not willing to push boundaries.

The Key Traits You Need in Your Team

The Key Traits You Need in Your Team

You need people who are:

• Hungry to learn.
• Willing to put in the time.
• Ready to execute with the same urgency as the founders.

These traits are non-negotiable. Without them, your startup may struggle to thrive.

Common Hiring Mistakes to Avoid

So, how do you avoid costly hiring mistakes? Here are a few common pitfalls:

• Not Knowing Who You Need: Not every talented individual fits an early-stage startup. Define your ideal team by considering personality, expertise, aspirations, and goals. Knowing who you need increases the chances of finding the right candidate.
• Hiring Like Crazy: Constant hiring may seem necessary, but it can be wasteful. You can evaluate your strategy and align hiring with business needs to avoid time, money, and progress lost on the wrong candidates.
• Hiring Based on Familiarity: Never hire someone you can’t part ways with. Merit should come before personal relationships. Be ready to make tough decisions if needed.
• Hiring Someone Because They Need Help: Hire people who add value, are committed to growth, and know their work inside out. Compassion is important, but it shouldn’t dictate your hiring decisions.
• Not “Dating” Your Hire: Beyond interviews, take the time to understand the person, their goals, and their thought processes. Some qualities can’t be assessed on paper.
• Overlooking Internal Talent: Your next star might already be on your team. Investing in internal talent can be more effective than constantly seeking external candidates.
• Unnecessary Hiring Restrictions or Bias: Focus on finding the right fit, not adhering to rigid restrictions. Evaluate candidates on merit, not just their background or personal traits.

And finally, don’t rush the process. A bad hire means lost time and money—two things startups can’t afford to waste. Taking the time to thoroughly assess candidates is an investment in your company’s future.

Building Your Dream Team

Finding the ideal candidate can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. At EBAS, we specialize in guiding startups through every step of talent acquisition. From defining your ideal candidate profile to implementing efficient interview processes and attracting top-tier talent, we’ve got your back.

Are you ready to build your dream team? Let’s chat!