Hiring for a Start up – Hire Character before Talent

By Rohan Bhansali on February 6, 2013 11 Comments / 5991 views

In the 4 years since I started my entrepreneurial journey, I have probably interviewed north of 800 people. Being an integrated digital marketing agency, Gozoop requires a wide spectrum of skills; Account Managers, Designers, Developers, Content Writers, Business Strategists, Online Reputation Managers, Media Planners, etc.

Now, each position demands a widely different set of skills. But as a start up, skills should count for just 20% of your deciding criteria. What you really need to focus on is character.

One major advantage you have as a startup vis a vis established competition, is your ability to quickly pivot to new opportunities. Adaption is the way of life for an early stage startup.

Gozoop started off as web development agency and pivoted to digital marketing when we saw the right opportunity there. Our internal processes transformed as we advanced to international markets of UAE & South East Asia. Our working environment changed as we grew to a team of 51 from a team of 6. Our business model changed as we decided to gradually move from services towards products.

An organization is nothing but a group of individuals. Thus, how fast an organization adapts to opportunities is nothing but a derivative of how fast the individuals adapt to their changing roles and responsibilities.

Some examples of how our internal team pivoted:

Somesh, who we hired for Business Development in India, now heads Social Media operations in Dubai

Bansi, who we brought in as a Content writer, now heads are HR team (most of you All know her as our Happiness Officer)

Paresh, who was hired to help with India Sales, is now our Senior most Account Manager. He also helps on our Singapore operations

Hrishit, who joined us as a Business Strategist for Decidebuddy, now manages major marketing dollars as part of our Media Buying team

Kiran, our Web Development Head, volunteered to manage all our Finances over and above his day to day role when we had nobody else to manage it

What enabled us to pivot swiftly is the refined character of the individuals we hired. They showed leadership, they showed the ability to adapt to changing realities and most importantly they displayed a huge spirit of belongingness by putting the company’s success first.They delivered more by character than they did by talent.

Ask your self the following questions while hiring:

Can I depend on this person to stand by the company in challenging times?

Does this person add positively to my work culture?

Will this person be able to adapt his/her role to changing needs of the business?

Would I want to spend time with this person on a day to day basis?

If the answer to at least 3 out of the 4 questions is a yes, then you’ve got yourself a fantastic intrepreneur!

Happy team building.

Comments

Rohan Bhansali

11 Comments

asha chaudhry February 7, 2013, 10:31 am

dude, welcome back!

this is a really relevant post – totally true. i think changing roles are refreshing. they also ensure an individual continues to learns and always grows. happy people make happy startups (and happiness officers)!!!

still waiting for my cupcake 🙂

p.s: rohan can u show off your rodinhood tee by emailing it across?!
Rohan Bhansali February 7, 2013, 11:53 am

Thanks Asha, I gifted my RH tee to PremKumar Iyer, our online marketing head who is truly a RodinHooder – Thinker. Doer.

Prem, email your pic to Asha.
Bansi Raja February 7, 2013, 12:17 pm

Totally.. happy people definitely make happy startups! 🙂

We’re planning a cool activity this Saturday, why don’t you join us? Your cupcake would be waiting for you! :p
asha chaudhry February 7, 2013, 12:22 pm

would love to bansi… but i live in goaaah!!!

🙂
Bansi Raja February 7, 2013, 12:28 pm

Oops!

But do visit us whenever you’re in Mumbai 🙂
Iyer Premkumar February 7, 2013, 1:16 pm

Sure Rohan,

Hi Asha, will share it soon.

Thanks.
Alok Sharma February 7, 2013, 1:37 pm

Thanks for sharing this.

I wish you could have shared this in 2010.. I have done big mistake in choosing partner.. and I am leaving my own 2 startups when they are actually growing.

Thanks

Alok

Let’s Make Life Simple
asha chaudhry February 8, 2013, 4:29 am

awesome!

asha@rodinhood.com
Iyer Premkumar February 8, 2013, 11:44 am

Thanks!!
Ayush Prem May 22, 2014, 5:51 am

what a skillful analysis and message. Description about internal team members bought smile on my face.. 🙂

Character over talent.. agreed. pukka.!!
Roshni Baronia August 31, 2015, 2:16 pm

Hiring right is what occupies my mind presently and these four mantras are sure gonna help me….great post Rohan