Hire for a bottleneck, not a wish list
The first employee should remove a constraint that is clearly slowing revenue, delivery, support, or operations. A vague helper role is harder to manage and easier to regret.
- Write the weekly outcomes before the job post.
- Budget salary, taxes, tools, training, and management time.
- Create a simple scorecard for interviews.
- Prepare the first two weeks of onboarding.
Define success in observable work
Instead of asking for a motivated self-starter, describe the tasks, decisions, communication rhythm, and results the role owns.
Interview consistently
Ask each candidate the same core questions and compare evidence. Consistency protects fairness and helps you avoid hiring only on personality.
Onboarding is part of the hire
A strong first month includes context, tools, examples, feedback, and clear expectations. Do not expect a new hire to guess the system.