Building Dream Team: Tips for Making your First Hires with Noel Andrews, CEO of Jobrack
If you're eager to set yourself up for success in building powerful teams and making the right hires, this post is a must-read. Noel Andrews, the CEO of Jobrack shares valuable insights on building fully remote teams and hiring effectively.
Briony first met Noel at an entrepreneurs' event where Noel hosted a content session on remote team building. She wwas struck by Noel's practical approach and intentionality in his insights. Noel's 15+ years of management and leadership experience in both large corporations and fully remote startup teams make him a seasoned expert in the field.
In 2018, Noel acquired Jobrack, a company dedicated to helping business owners across the world hire well-educated, highly qualified, remote workers from Eastern Europe. Jobrack offers a range of services, including "done with you" solutions. Untapped utilized Jobrack's services hir some incredible Untapped team members and can vouch for the amazing hiring support.
Here are some key insights from our podcast interview with Noel.
How to Know When It’s Time to Hire
Noel highlights two common indicators that signal it's time to hire.
First, external feedback from peers, friends, or business coaches who recognize the need for additional support. Sometimes, all it takes is someone else saying, "You should hire."
Second, a personal realisation of hitting capacity limits, feeling overwhelmed, or lacking the time for essential tasks. Entrepreneurs often put immense pressure on themselves, and Noel emphasizes the importance of recognizing when help is needed.
Who to Hire Initially?
The decision of who to hire first depends on your unique circumstances. Noel distinguishes between expertise-based roles and assistance-based roles. In most cases, entrepreneurs have expertise but lack the time to handle administrative tasks. Hence, the first hire is often a versatile assistant who can take those tasks off their plate, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities.
Overcoming the Fear of Letting Go
Many entrepreneurs struggle with letting go of control when hiring. Noel advises that it can be done gradually, providing comfort in the process. Start by offloading lower-level tasks and work with your new hire to find a comfortable rhythm. Trust the process, and remember that hiring is a strategic move to free up your time for more impactful work.
Writing Effective Job Descriptions
Crafting clear job descriptions is a crucial but often challenging task. Many people struggle with this step so Noel suggests starting with a scorecard, envisioning the future employee's performance metrics, which simplifies the interview process and performance reviews.
Emphasizing Values and Personality
Beyond skills and qualifications, it's crucial to consider a candidate's values and personality. These traits are difficult to change, so finding someone who aligns with your company's culture and values is essential. Noel advises focusing on these aspects during the hiring process to ensure a long-term fit within your team.
Unicorn Employees: Debunking the Myth
Noel emphasizes that the concept of hiring a "unicorn" employee, someone who can do everything, is often unrealistic. While it may seem appealing, such individuals are rare, and even when you think you've found one, it might be a fluke. He suggests a more practical approach: combining roles and hiring for complementary skill sets. This not only eases the hiring process but also allows you to match skills to specific tasks.
Context Matters: Value of Long-term Team Members
It’s important to highlight the long-term team members who accumulate context over time. Unlike freelancers who might constantly require context-setting, someone embedded in your business can contribute more ideas and innovations. This level of familiarity can significantly benefit your organization and is something you often don't get with a large team of freelancers.
Selling Your Company in Job Posts
A job post is more than just a list of requirements; it's a sales page for your company. Noel advice is to use videos in job posts to introduce yourself and create a personal connection with potential hires. Make the job opportunity exciting, emphasizing the benefits of working with your organization, such as personal development, mentorship, and growth potential.
Testing the Waters with Test Tasks
Interviews alone aren't always the best indicators of a candidate's ability to perform a job. Noel recommends using test tasks or test projects that align with the role's responsibilities. These tasks help assess candidates' actual skills and problem-solving abilities. Moreover, they reveal how candidates approach tasks, whether they go the extra mile, and how well they communicate.
Invest in Onboarding
Once you've found the right candidate, invest time in their onboarding process. Having daily check-ins in the initial weeks, training sessions, and sharing your company's values and mission is what will make the new hire welcome, connected, and will set them up for success. This immersive approach helps new team members understand their role, your expectations, and how they fit into your company's larger goals.
Remember that hiring is an investment in your company's growth and success. Take your time, follow the process, and prioritize finding team members who share your vision and values. With Noel's guidance, you'll be well on your way to building a powerful and effective team.
