Three Insights About Hiring

I recently read a blog post on hiring by Fred Wilson and it inspired me to capture some of the learnings he has very nicely placed throughout that post.  Now, I don’t often comment on what VCs write or post but this article struck a chord with me as especially significant for many of the startups I know out there that are considering hiring.   So, here are three gems to consider when starting your hiring process. 1.  Don’t Ask for a Resume. In Fred Wilson’s case, they posted the two job announcements on their blog and invited anyone to apply.  Not too out of the ordinary.  However, what was out of the ordinary was that…

Three Reasons to Avoid Layoffs

Sustained periods of economic downturn send many small businesses reeling, especially technology startups. Eventually, startups succumb to layoffs.  This is often because many organizations have either been counseled or have been conditioned to think of layoffs as a key cost and workforce management tool. But are all the costs being recognized and fully accounted for?  While the costs savings associated with a workforce reduction are readily measurable, not all the overarching costs are. Here are three factors that every manager should consider when thinking of conducting a layoff. 1. Brand erosion. Let’s say you are a product manufacturer and say your organization decides to layoff ten employees. How likely do you think it is that…