Summary

On this final episode of Season 2 of the 1st10 Podcast, Boris Epstein and Alexis Munger outline a comprehensive Hiring Playbook for founders building early-stage startups. They list seven critical steps to attract and hire top talent, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, leveraging networks, and the founder's active role in recruiting. Through anecdotes, examples, and actionable advice, they explore how founders can craft compelling narratives, identify red flags, and sell their vision to potential hires.

Some key takeaways from this episode:

• Storytelling is King: Without a compelling narrative, even the best opportunities can fall flat.  

• Founders Must Recruit: Founders need to be deeply involved in outreach, even if it means facing a high rejection rate.  

• Sell the Vision: Top candidates are drawn to the mission and the team, not just the salary.

• Go Beyond Technical Skills: Cultural fit, conflict resolution, and collaboration skills are just as important as technical abilities.  

Specifically, don't miss the part where Boris and Alexis compare recruiting to getting married! That one will definitely unlock a whole new perspective about startup recruiting for sure!

Chapters

00:00 Introductions

02:55 Hiring With Stories: Why Narrative Matters

07:32 Hidden Networks: Talent You Already Know

12:07 Founder's Grind: Don't Outsource Recruiting

15:08 Filter for Fit: Know Your Deal-Breakers and Red Flags

23:00 Beyond the Code: Interview for Culture and Conflict

27:22 Sell the Dream: How to Win Over Top Talent

35:44 Art of the Offer: Make It Personal

39:25 Final Thoughts: What Really Moves the Needle?

Quotes

• "I feel like some of the best hires I've ever made where I can see that that person stuck around the company a long time probably didn't look obvious on paper." - Alexis Munger (16:01 )

• "If your story sucks but your deal-breakers are high, you're going to be doing a lot of evening-crying." - Boris Epstein (22:05 )  

• "Founders and startups do a very poor job of infusing a sense of conflict and tension into the interview process." - Boris Epstein (23:49 )  

• "Don't underestimate the emotional aspect of changing jobs and how that plays into a candidate's decision. It's not just money-based!" - Alexis Munger (30:35 )  

• "At that point, you're basically asking the candidate to marry you!" - Boris Epstein (35:55 )

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Links

Music by Roman Senyk from Pixabay

Producer: Shrikant Joshi