Entrepreneurs: What Do You Say?

Entrepreneurs: What Do You Say?

Post from: MAPpingCompanySuccess

An article in the Canadian Globe & Mail listing ten realities of working for a startup sparked a discussion with a group of entrepreneurs.

Everyone agreed that ‘what do you tell candidates during interviews’ is too general a question, so here are some of the specific questions they voiced.

  • How safe is it to assume that everybody who applies to a startup has read/heard enough to know the pitfalls?
  • How much of the “down side” should be mentioned during an interview, especially with highly desirable candidates.
  • Should you bring up the need to pivot—often more than once—when the end result may have little relationship to the candidate’s stated interests?
    • What is the pivot is already on the drawing board, but not yet public?
  • How do you respond to questions about how company failure would affect their career?
  • What do you say to someone with desperately needed skills who is willing to start in that area, but wants to learn new areas in a reasonably short period?
  • What do you say when the candidate questions the option package and asks about option pool, investment rounds and dilution?
  • Should you hire if you still have some money, but your investors have lost interest and are recommending closing the company?”
    • Should the fact that the candidate would be resigning from a current position to join you make a difference?

How have/would you handle these questions in an interview you were conducting?

Come back next week to see responses from the group.

Image credit: arte_ram

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