Alderson James

5 reasons why a drawn-out hiring process is detrimental to your growth in today's market:   #1. You'll lose top talent & open the doors for disengaged talent   Top talent actively looking for a new role may certainly have multiple offers on the table. Particularly in this market, it's likely that they'll accept offers that come in first due to a sense of increased stability.   And if they are passive candidates? They simply will not wish to leave a comfortable position where your process may cast doubts on future stability.   With regards to momentum, those that are engaged at the start of the process will become disengaged over time, losing interest in the opportunity as the process drags on.   #2. Your reputation will take a hit   Close knit networks fuels conversations, especially around negative hiring processes. Candidates who face delays in interview feedback and interview scheduling, will likely share their experience with others, and also may be less likely to apply for future positions your company is hiring for.   #3. Your hidden costs will increase   Extended hiring processes lead to hidden costs not factored into standard cost-per-hire calculations. More interviews, decision delays, and additional stages require more time from your team, resulting in higher operational expenses.   #4. Productivity decreases   Vacant positions can delay high-priority projects, and the quality of work may suffer as employees juggle additional responsibilities. The longer the vacancy, the greater the impact on your team's efficiency, morale and well-being.   #5. Your quality of hire will not improve.   It seems counterintuitive, right? Longer hiring processes, you'd assume, would equal better suited hires for your organisation due to the increased layers of your assessment capabilities. But, this is not the case.   A prolonged process can lead to rushed decisions out of competing with other orgs for top talent where offers are on the table, as well as the potential loss of top talent due to their disengagement. Streamlined, well-structured hiring processes is more likely to identify and secure the right candidate... efficiently. 

Whether you're laying the foundation for growth (Series A), gearing up for rapid scaling (Series B), or looking to expand to in to new markets (Series C) selecting the right Head of Talent for your start-up will be crucial.   As the company grows through various funding stages, a Head of Talent's role will evolve. And so the way in which we evaluate and select candidates for this position will need to adapt to match increasing demands and responsibilities.   𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬⬇ 🚀 Series A 🔎 Look for candidates experienced in dynamic, fast-paced environments. 🔎 Prioritise agility and adaptability to handle evolving priorities. 🔎 Seek individuals comfortable with ambiguity and capable of working autonomously. 🚀 Series B 🔎 Focus on candidates with a proven track record in managing high volumes of hires. 🔎 Emphasise the ability and requirements to implement scalable recruitment processes effectively. 🔎 Consider candidates with strong leadership skills to build and mentor teams. 🚀 Series C 🔎 Focus on candidates who have the ability to create a global recruiting strategy. 🔎 Ensure they have the experience delivering hiring training to HMs and key stakeholders. 🔎 Look for individuals who are passionate about Employer branding and are able to define an Employee Value Proposition for continued scaling. All of these aspects contribute to a strong Head of Talent across all funding levels. However, focusing on the specific capabilities relevant to each stage will ensure your Head of Talent is perfectly aligned with your company's evolving needs. 🤝 If you're currently navigating this level of search and require assistance, we'll happily discuss how we can support you (link in comments). #StartupGrowth #HeadOfTalent #SeriesA #SeriesB #RecruitmentStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #TalentAcquisition

  In 2023, VC funding for US start-ups with female founders hit 25%, according to Crunchbase.    The good news is, 2024 is looking to see an increase in this figure ⬆   The rise of diverse founders is a game-changer for everyone. Not only does this foster a more inclusive and innovative start-up ecosystem, but it also enables solutions that cater to the needs of a wider audience.   According to StartUs Insights, here are some of the top female-led start-ups currently on the market:   Caelum Diagnostic Solutions Founder: Dr. Rachel Wellner 👉 Caelum Diagnostic Solutions revolutionizes biopsy diagnostics within the medical device industry. In just under 10 minutes, the start-up's solution provides highly accurate results (94%-99% precision), enabling the diagnosis of a wide range of cancers.   StartUs Insights Founder: Iryna Bursuk 👉 Operating from Austria, StartUs Insights is a leading platform redefining innovation intelligence. The platform aims to provide actionable insights on start-ups, scale-ups, technologies, and trends. It offers instant access to over 4.7 million start-ups, scale-ups, and tech companies, as well as 20,000 trends and technologies, through AI-powered search and a real-time database.   SPOONFULS, INC Founder: Heather Baird 👉 Based in the US, Spoonfuls focuses on sustainable, reuse and refill, systems across different sectors, disrupting the packaging industry. Their increased engagement is making a significant impact on promoting sustainability!    Akroo Founder: Hannah Joyce 👉 This London-based start-up focuses on professional training and coaching. The company has gained serious traction in enhancing teams' L&D capabilities, even when resources are limited.   Fibe Founder: Hazel Gonda 👉 Fibe is pioneering the creation of sustainable fibres in London, using potato harvests. This method drastically cuts water use by 96% and reduces pollutants by 94%, making significant strides towards sustainable fashion materials. There is no doubt that the future of start-ups is looking bright and inclusive!    But... there's always more we can do to encourage this movement:   🌟 Support Diverse Founders When considering investment opportunities, prioritise companies with strong leadership teams that reflect the diversity of the market they serve.    🌟 Become a Mentor Share your knowledge and experience with aspiring founders of all backgrounds.    🌟 Spread the Word Be a champion for diverse founders in your network. Let’s close the funding gap and unleash the full potential of a thriving startup ecosystem! #DiverseFounders #FemaleFounders #VCFunding #Startups #Innovation #Inclusivity

There is no doubt that OpenAI's release of ChatGPT in November 2022 marked a turning point for enterprises, showcasing the transformative potential of generative AI.    According to PwC's annual CEO survey, 32% of CEOs have already adopted generative AI across their companies, and 58% see it as a catalyst for improving the quality of their products and services. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬? According to a report by LinkedIn (link in comments), recruiters using generative AI tools have reported: ↗ Increased speed and ease in writing job descriptions (57% of users) ↗ More time for fulfilling work due to task automation (45%) ↗ Removal of mundane tasks (42%) ↗ Improved overall productivity (41%) ↗ Easier and faster engagement with candidates (35%) 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫... 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭❗ With the rapid advancement of AI, it's tempting to assume tech-heavy skillsets are the golden ticket for the future...but soft skills are more important than ever!    The soft skills that set great Talent & People experts apart: 👉 Communication: 77% 👉 Relationship-building: 72% 👉 Adaptability: 63% While AI can streamline and enhance recruitment processes, it's these human skills that will continue to define success...

There is an increasingly high demand for mental health support.    And with the rise of #artificialintelligence and other advanced technologies, mental health start-ups are stepping up to meet this need...   According to insights shared by Omdena, here are some of the top mental health start-ups to watch out for in 2024 ⬇ MediMusic 📍 UK They provide a music neuroscience solution, creating musical journeys for listeners with the aim to reduce stress/anxiety, improve the effectiveness of pain medications, and reduce pain. This is a low-cost, non-invasive and complimentary service to existing treatments that also demonstrates a significant ROI for healthcare institutions.   Mindgram 📍 Warsaw Currently being offered as an employee benefit by top employers, Mindgram help individuals understand their mental health issues and connect them with top well-being experts.   Sympatient 📍 Hamburg Sympatient is building a new type of care provider for patients with anxiety disorders: the digital anxiety clinic. Their treatments include therapeutic gold standards like exposure therapy and CBT, delivered digitally and in the comfort of patients’ homes.    Kintsugi 📍 California They are on a mission to scale access to mental healthcare for all. They are developing voice biomarker software to detect signs of depression and anxiety from short clips of free-form speech, closing mental health care gaps across risk-bearing health systems. #healthtech #startups #mentalhealth

Welcoming our lovely Samantha Boatwright back from Lisbon! 🌞 Last week, Samantha travelled to Lisbon for a series of important client meetings focused around People & Talent within the Tech landscape.   Sam engaged with key clients, discussing strategic initiatives around TA, employee engagement and leadership development. Not only was this a chance for us to understand our client's challenges and goals, but also allows us to share our latest insights and best practices with regards to People roles within Portugal. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬/𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝; 💰 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞; Tech salaries have significantly increased and are now competitive with those in the rest of the EU, UK and even American-led salaries, particularly within US Start-ups.   🤸♀️ 𝐆𝐢𝐠 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐦; Similar to the UK, more Chief People Officers are taking on freelance opportunities on a fractional basis to improve their work-life balance and to work with a myriad of start-up clients. By doing this, they can flexibly use their knowledge and experience in the best possible way.   ⚙ 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠; While talent remains a hot commodity, there is a positive trend. Lisbon is increasingly becoming a hotspot for tech talent, with it's reputation as a tech hub growing day by day. Companies like Dashlane, Pairpoint, and Indie Campers are just a few examples of the exciting ventured calling Lisbon home. Sam's first-hand interactions with our clients underscored the growing importance of Lisbon as a destination for top talent and innovative companies.   🚀 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭-𝐮𝐩 𝐇𝐮𝐛𝐬; More and more start-ups are choosing Lisbon as their base of ops, drawn by not just the talent pool but also the tax benefits. With 20% tax benefit for 5-10 years, it seems like a no-brainer!   ❤️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫; Sam was struck by the warmth and enthusiasm of the people she met and interacted with. She found their energy contagious and like anywhere, those that have both tenacity and resilience will thrive massively within the start-up space. 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬: 💳 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠; While early-stage funding is relatively accessible, securing large-scale investments can be more challenging. 🌍 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲; Portuguese start-ups often face hurdles in expanding beyond the European market. In summary, Lisbon is quickly becoming a key player in Europe's tech scene, fostering innovation and attracting global attention. Strategic initiatives, supportive infrastructure, and a dynamic community are driving continued growth. Thanks to Sam for sharing these insights, we're super excited to be part of the People & Talent journey over there! 🎉

The resurgence of company cars as an employee benefit is now the leading force behind the surge in electric vehicle sales across the UK! ⚡   Employers are increasingly enabling staff to lease EVs for personal use through sacrifice schemes, which provide significant tax and national insurance savings.   Aside from lowering the costs of EVs, this advancement in company perks is also promoting environment consciousness among employees.. supporting us to lead a greener future! 💚 🌲 🌱   It's been reported that Fiona Howarth, CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles calls the scheme a 'game changer; offering the most-cost-effective way of transitioning' from petrol to EVs.   🗣 This is massive news with regards to talent attraction and retention as green initiatives are becoming more critical to employees. According to a Deloitte survey, over half of Gen Z and millennials consider an employer's environmental impact before accepting a job.   ↗ Have you considered how green benefits could enhance your company’s appeal? ↗ What other eco-friendly initiatives could make your workplace more attractive? ⬇ #GreenPerks #employerbenefits #sustainability #talentattraction #retention #EVRevolution

We're thrilled to announce the successful placement of a Senior Sales Executive at one of the foremost pioneers in online safety technology, dedicated to safeguarding children and promoting online safety.   With a steadfast commitment to child protection, our client caters to a diverse clientele, ranging from industry giants in the adult entertainment sector to non-adult entities, offering innovative solutions tailored for social media and gaming platforms.   Driven by a powerful mission and aspiring to become the global leader in online safeguarding, it was an honour to partner with such a forward-thinking company.   Our objective was clear: Identify and source a Senior Sales Exec to head up the tech enterprise sales arm of the business with expertise in the tech side of the adult industry, capable of managing complex sale cycles and securing high-value accounts. It was vital that this person would be able to navigate a start-up environment with autonomy and maturity, driven by a passion for online safety and safeguarding children.   Massive congrats to Paddy Tye for skillfully navigating this intricate brief 👏

In honor of #mentalhealthawarenessweek, we want to ask... 👉🏽 How are you, 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮?   We often get asked this question quite candidly within conversations, and typical answers usually surround 'yeah, I'm fine!'   But here is a friendly reminder to those that need it:   It's ok not to be ok It's ok to reach out for help It's ok to talk about you you are really feeling   Mental health is a crucial component of our overall well-being and it's important that we take the time to prioritise our mental health needs❗   Stages of burnout to watch out for ⬇ You feel the need to prove yourself You keep working harder and harder to achieve this You begin to neglect your own needs You are conflicted and start to blame others for the situation you're in You change your values to focus on work more/job search more You deny the problems that arise due to job search or work stress You withdraw from your social and family life You don't feel like yourself You feel lost & completely exhausted Check in with yourself. If you notice any of these signs, you're probably reaching burnout and you need to take some time to focus on YOU. Your mental health should always take priority, its the most overlooked when it comes to personal ROI. Alderson James are sending lots of encouragement, particularly to those facing redundancies and are on their job search journey. If we can be of any help re CV tips/templates, interview tips or just a friendly check-in about the market, we'd love to support you.   

Some exciting news within the start-up space! 👀 Wayve, a UK-based self-driving start-up has just received a jaw-dropping £1billion investment, marking the largest-ever funding round for a European AI company!   Their ground-breaking technology empowers their cars to adapt and respond to real-world situations, mirroring human-like intelligence.   Not only does this investment propel Wayve into the spotlight, but it also speaks volumes about the immense confidence investors have in the potential in their business model - validating Wayve's vision to revolutionise transportation as we currently know it. The UK government's commitment to supporting self-driving cars, with plans to see them hit the streets by 2026, further underscores the momentum driving innovation in this field.   #startupnews #ai