For more information on the role of job vacancies and how to use them, see the Guide to hiring early employees for consumer startups.
Job vacancies are a critical part of the hiring process because they are often the first public facing documents that a startup puts out. Many companies, particularly younger ones, forego the process of creating carefully articulated job vacancies in favor of sourcing candidates via word of mouth, direct outreach or referrals from existing employees.
But job vacancies are critical for less-formal hiring processes as well, and help ensure the right information is being expressed while the hunt for the perfect candidate is happening. These can be used when employees or networks refer candidates, or sent during outreach.
The template below can be used to craft effective job vacancies:
Key sections
- The mission that was in the job proposal
- Outcomes: What the role is expected to achieve within the first few months and up to a year
- The functional and non-functional requirements, as outlined in the job proposal
- The hiring process: The job vacancy and outreach should include information on what candidates can expect, including, if necessary, certain testing or technical skillset interviews.
- The company and the candidate: For younger companies, it can be helpful to indicate how this role fits into the company’s overall strategy and vision, and how the candidate should view their contributions to the company if they are successful.
- What to send to the company: All companies should ask for a resume during the application process. Cover letters are generally pointless; it’s better to ask for a more extensive memo and goals for the job after the candidate has finished interviewing.
Sample
The Mission: EarCo is looking for a director of communications that is responsible for telling our story to the world. The director will help EarCo articulate our narrative, develop a voice for our brand and tell the public, press and investors about it. As EarCo has grown from 5 employees to 50, and is approaching $2 million in revenue in this year, we hope to be more thoughtful and proactive about how we speak about ourselves to ensure we’re putting our best foot forward.
Outcomes:
- Complete development of a brand mission statement
- Quantificable media mentions, particularly stories about EarCo and out work in national media
- End-to-end hiring and buildout of a communications team and a full communication plan for ongoing investment
Requirements:
- Ability to write quickly, efficiently and poetically: Past experience in journalism or communications is necessary
- Established relationships with media companies and press: This role will serve as a key spokesperson for the company by regularly engaging with reporters and pitching stories, managing inbound and reactive inquiries, and actively monitoring media landscape to ensure that the team is handling risk
- Project Management: Past experience in leading and coordinating major projects across stakeholders
- Ability to write quickly, efficiently and poetically: Past experience in journalism or communications is necessary
- Established relationships with media companies and press: This role will serve as a key spokesperson for the company by regularly engaging with reporters and pitching stories, managing inbound and reactive inquiries, and actively monitoring media landscape to ensure that the team is handling risk
- Project Management: Past experience in leading and coordinating major projects across stakeholders
Hiring process
Following a phone screening interview, the candidate can expect up to four interviews with the hiring manager, peers and the founders. We will also ask for a writing test that will take under an hour to complete. We expect to make the decision within three weeks of the initial interview.
The company and the candidate
EarCo has thus far kept communications responsibility only with the founders. As we grow, our founders want to spend more time on the product and business, and are looking for someone to entirely own the communications aspect of the company. We’ve also learned how critical external communication is to the company’s future growth and actively include communications-related KPIs in our business plan. This is a critical role for the company and one that requires someone to jump in quickly and own it.
What to send to the company
Please send a resume. In lieu of a cover letter, please write a brief (up to 500 words) memo outlining your vision for this role based on the outcomes and requirements outlined above.