Who Was Your First Hire?

Question

I’ll never forget mine! My first hire was a foreman. I needed someone who could run the job while I focused on running and growing the business. That was the moment it stopped being just me and started becoming something bigger. Scary? Of course. Exciting? Absolutely.

That first hire teaches you the hard stuff. How to train. How to lead. How to TRUST someone with your name and your clients. You don’t always get it right, but that’s how you grow.

What I learned:

Hire sooner than you think you’re ready
Character beats skill every time
Being a boss is a completely different trade than doing the work

So let me ask you… who was your first hire, and what did they teach you?

moly · Answer

A learning I have from my early hiring days is being very up front with people during interviews about what job entails from a mindset or softskills POV, outside of skillsets or specific experience.

For example, if what you're working on could change at any time because the business moves fast, then I say: 'What you're working on could change any time—are you comfortable with having to pivot and leave behind plans you've been working on?' Another one: 'This job can involve conversations around X,Y,Z with customers or partners—are you comfortable/experienced with having those kinds of conversations?'

I don't want any surprises later on either side.

judithvirag · Answer

Well, my first hire was family.&nbsp; It was a struggle, and if I could do it over I would not hire family and friends.&nbsp; Fast forward 16 years now we hire for core values, attitude and character. :)&nbsp;

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Who Was Your First Hire?

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