Executive Search in Start-Ups: When do you make your first C-Suite hire?

Executive Search in start-ups isn’t always the first port of call for company founders. So, when should they think about their first C-Suite hire? Having worked with many start-ups from inception through to series C funding, TechNET CxO understands the complexities of those first key hires.

So, we thought we would talk through the key aspects to think about when starting an executive search process. Remember, it’s about what works for your business – no two start-up journeys are the same after all.

What C-Suite role suits your business needs right now?

Once a customer base has been established, funding is secured and a team is in place, you might think it’s time to start hiring experienced leaders. However, a start-up won’t need to fill every type of C-Suite role at once. While one business might benefit from a CMO, another will need a CTO before anyone else. A great place to start is assessing particular gaps, be it knowledge of the industry or specific skills. For example, do you need a senior marketing professional who knows an industry inside out, therefore knowing the key marketing channels to target?

Basically, it’s your time to admit weaknesses. This isn’t a bad thing – it’s knowing where the expertise needs to be applied. This is so important because it shows the C-Suite hire that they will have plenty to do when they start. These hires are not cheap – experience equals a higher salary. Furthermore, they want challenges and don’t want to get bored quickly. So, before money is spent on a recruitment process, ask yourself if these weaknesses really require a new set of eyes at this time.

Team and culture fit

A company culture does not form over night. It takes a long time to establish values, a working environment and a culture that is inviting to all employees. Senior leaders in particular will know the way they work and the kind of culture they are looking for. So, how do you communicate this in the early stages of a start-up and ensure you are finding the right fit? Involving the whole team is the number one approach in a start-up. Ensuring alignment of the goals and vision is critical. If the potential C-Suite employee cannot see how the rest of the business is approaching these concepts, then communication will degrade pretty early in the executive search process.

Equipping yourself with the right questions is also important. Cover checking leadership styles, cultural fit and skill sets by asking questions relevant to your business. Try to avoid the generic interview questions and make them unique to your start-up to consistently get the right answers when it comes to culture fit.

How can you find executive talent as a growing start-up?

Established talent is not easy to attract, especially when a business is at its early stages. As a start-up founder, you might have an established network to refer to. As mentioned, however, your network might not have the right person you need for this first C-Suite hire. Of course, our recommendation would be retained executive search services. This means the recruiters will source and take care of admin, but it still leaves a lot of the recruitment power in your hands. You need to be as involved in this as possible, so that the process runs smoothly.

Could fractional consultancy be your solution?

Perhaps hiring a full time C-Suite executive just isn’t the right choice for you as the start-up grows. However, there is a solution that is becoming popular within executive search. Fractional consultancy is a great solution for a company that needs laser focused expertise to solve a specific problem. A fractional advisor is a high-level professional who excel in specific domains like crisis management, project management, and start-up expansion. They work part-time or on a project basis for a company, specifically filling a C-Suite level role. They can offer unmatched guidance to help supercharge a start-ups potential. Explore our recent blog to discover the top benefits of hiring a fractional consultant.

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TechNET CxO is the trusted executive search partner for many technology and IT companies! Explore our full range of research services to discover what we do. If you’re looking for senior talent, submit your vacancy today and we will be in touch!