--- title: "How to hire on a startup budget" id: "47763" type: "post" slug: "how-to-hire-on-a-startup-budget" published_at: "2023-07-11T15:33:28+00:00" modified_at: "2023-07-11T17:33:28+00:00" url: "https://seedlegals.com/resources/how-to-hire-on-a-startup-budget/" markdown_url: "https://seedlegals.com/resources/how-to-hire-on-a-startup-budget.md" excerpt: "Big ambitions to grow but no big budget to hire? Find out how to use storytelling, a fresh employer brand and smart tools to help you grow your team." taxonomy_category: - "Startup Guides" --- 5 min read # How to hire on a startup budget Published: Jul 11, 2023 Contents [Create a compelling brand narrative](#create-a-compelling-brand-narrative) [Where to look for exceptional talent, without paying giant fees](#where-to-look-for-exceptional-talent-without-paying-giant-fees) [Hire smarter](#hire-smarter) [Hiring exceptional talent on a budget is challenging, but not impossible](#hiring-exceptional-talent-on-a-budget-is-challenging-but-not-impossible) Read Next [How to hire on a startup budget](https://seedlegals.com/resources/how-to-hire-on-a-startup-budget/) [How much should I pay my team? UK startup salaries revealed](https://seedlegals.com/resources/uk-startup-salaries/) [Share options explained: the essential guide for UK startups](https://seedlegals.com/resources/share-options-explained/) [EMI or Unapproved Share Option Scheme – which is best?](https://seedlegals.com/resources/emi-or-unapproved-share-option-scheme-which-is-best-for-you/) [The legal documents you need for your EMI share option scheme](https://seedlegals.com/resources/emi-share-option-scheme-legal-documents/) [Giving share options to customers and social media influencers](https://seedlegals.com/resources/giving-share-options-to-customers-and-social-media-influencers/) [Adriano Herdman](https://seedlegals.com/resources/author/adriano-herdman/) *We’re back with the recruitment experts to hear their advice on hiring when working within financial constraints. Adriano Herdman is the co-founder of [Move](https://www.wearemove.com/) , the talent acquisition consultancy that puts together exceptional teams tailored to startups and scale-ups.* *Read more from Adriano: [How to get your first hire right](https://seedlegals.com/resources/hiring-first-employee/)* --- As a startup, you know that a company’s budget doesn’t define its level of success. So let’s look at how you can find exceptional talent without breaking the bank on expenses. The secret to hiring on a budget is about looking *beyond* the numbers and understanding your hiring procedures on a deeper level. Let’s talk about the power of building up your employer branding, where to look for candidates, and how to make smart investments (of both time and money) into your hiring processes. ## Create a compelling brand narrative Hiring isn’t unlike marketing. Sure, you’re looking for the right people to fill the right roles, which involves a level of effort you definitely can’t expect from your customers. But don’t forget that candidates are vetting *you* as well – and you need to sell yourself to them. Why should they join you? What’s your mission? Is there anything unique about you, for example are you approaching the market from a different angle? These things matter. Stepping up your [employer branding](https://www.wearemove.com/blog/employer-branding-for-startups) can be done entirely for free – it just needs some investment in effort. Here are the important steps to building a brand narrative. ### Create a culture deck This is an aesthetically pleasing PDF that outlines your mission, goals and values. A great deck should also include your [Employee Value Proposition (EVP)](https://www.wearemove.com/blog/employer-branding-for-startups) , which explains what you offer to help your employees thrive. For some extra tips, see what my business partner and co-founder of Move, Chris Haslam, has to say about creating an amazing [culture deck](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cahaslam_talentacquisition-employerbrand-hiring-activity-7071768833883004929-H3Oc/) : ### Build an attractive careers page People want to know what they’re getting themselves into. Your careers page is where you lay it all out on the table. Let’s take Bread Financial as an example. From the get-go, their [careers page](https://www.breadfinancial.com/en/who-we-are/careers.html#accordion-b7092a1bc6-item-43f9a9ab24) is extremely candidate-centred. The company tells you: - They love to see you flourish both as an employee and as a human - They offer specific benefits that come as part of the job - You’ll have the opportunity to join Business Resource Groups, an Associate Apprenticeship Program, and a Development Experience Program And once you click on Explore Open Roles, you’re met with an enthusiastic “Come grow with us!” and an upbeat video that goes in more depth about the company’s culture. The requirements and job specifications don’t appear until you search for specific job titles that fit your area of expertise. It’s an amazing first impression, and focuses attention on all the perks the company can provide to the right candidate. **Budget-friendly tip** You don’t need to spend thousands to get a great careers page. Notion offers some amazing [free or cost-effective templates](https://www.notion.so/templates/notions-careers-page) you can start using right now. ### Establish an engaging and active LinkedIn page Don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn. The way you present yourself on social media is a story in and of itself. And any prospective hire is going to head straight to your profile for more information about your company. Don’t think of LinkedIn as just a place to broadcast and sell your product and service. You’ll get better engagement when you engage with your industry’s community yourself. A good rule of thumb to help you grow an authentic brand presence on LinkedIn is to follow the 3-2-1 rule for your posts. This means, every week your content mix should include: - 3 content pieces about industry news - 2 pieces celebrating team accomplishments - 1 piece that showcases the product, service or solution you provide ## Where to look for exceptional talent, without paying giant fees Now that you’ve created a captivating story of who you are and what you do, it’s time to start looking for people. ### Job boards Obviously, you know what a job board is. You might have even used it in the past. Job boards can be very effective when it comes to finding new employees… except there’s one problem. They’re expensive. Putting a job advert up can cost hundreds of pounds for one single month, so if you’re on a tight budget, it’s understandable that this option doesn’t seem very viable. But hold on! Before you give up, have a read through the following list. These job boards are either free or relatively cheap to post on. If you’re looking for a software engineer, try: - [Work in Startups](https://workinstartups.com/) (UK-based, tech startup-oriented, and free to post on) - [Python](https://www.python.org/jobs/) (must be Python-related, free to post on) - [Dev IT Jobs](https://devitjobs.us/) (US-based, free to post on) - [Engineering Jobs](https://www.engineeringjobs.co.uk/recruiting) (UK-based, £75 per job advert) - [IT Jobs](https://www.it-jobs.co.uk/recruiting) (UK-based, £75 per job advert) If you’re looking for a salesperson, try: - [Simply Sales Jobs](https://www.simplysalesjobs.co.uk/post-a-job/pricing) (UK-based, £20 per job advert) - [Sales Roles](https://www.salesroles.com/post-a-job/) (UK-based, £70 per job advert) - [Sales Jobs](https://www.sales-jobs.co.uk/recruiting) (UK-based, £75 per job advert) If you’re looking for a general platform, try: - [Indeed](https://uk.indeed.com/hire) (free) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a517545/post-a-job-on-linkedin?lang=en) (free) **Write inclusive ads** Make sure your job specification is as gender-neutral as possible. This opens up your pool of applicants and stops you inadvertently putting off candidates. Our favourite tools include [Totaljobs Gender Bias Decoder](https://www.totaljobs.com/insidejob/gender-bias-decoder/) and [Gender Decoder](https://gender-decoder.katmatfield.com/) to help you avoid adding accidental bias to your ads. ### Messaging Job boards aren’t the only way of getting the word out there. Sending direct messages on LinkedIn can be just as effective, and it’s free. Let’s circle back to Chris Haslam for more [advice](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cahaslam_hiring-recruiting-blitzscale-activity-7071403344686198784-lt4X/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop) : When you’re crafting your messages, feel free to follow our template: Hi {{ first,name}}, I noticed in your profile that you’re a and are interested in , so thought you could be a great fit for {{job.title}} here at {{company.name}}. We’re {{company.value.prop}} and we pride ourselves on {{evp}}. You’ll be {{what.they’ll.be.working.on}} but what might be of interest is {{role.value.proposition}}. I’d love to tell you more. Does this sound of interest? Thanks, {{sender.name}} ### Referral schemes Keep your team engaged. The more people are on the hunt for exceptional talent, the higher your chances of building a successful team. Encourage your employees or contractors to look for candidates by setting up a referral scheme. This doesn’t always have to involve a hefty monetary bonus – you could reward successful referrals through experiences, vouchers, certificates, or even just public praise. ## Hire smarter **Remember the power of [sourcing and pipelining](https://www.wearemove.com/blog/how-to-source-candidates)**. Stay on the lookout for new talent – even before new roles open up. This ensures you’re never caught off guard and always have a group of engaged individuals to hire. **Invest in a high-quality CRM (Candidate Relationship Management) tool**. A CRM is a platform where you can store and process everything connected to hiring, from job ads and a careers page to pipelining and data analysis. There are some cheaper ones on the market that’ll do the job well and keep things hassle-free. Trust me, the investment in a CRM is well worth the time you’ll save in hiring admin. **Don’t forget to measure [how successful](https://www.wearemove.com/blog/key-hiring-metrics-for-startups) your hiring process is.** Keeping tabs on everything will make it much easier to understand what works and what doesn’t. Then you can avoid making the same mistakes twice, and double-down on what’s proven to work. ## Hiring exceptional talent on a budget is challenging, but not impossible As long as you hone your brand narrative, invest in high-quality online representation, and keep looking for potential candidates, you’re bound to build a team that drives your startup to new heights. [Move](https://www.wearemove.com/) 's TAaaS ('Talent Acquisition-as-a-Service') ensures you get it right when you most need to. As an embedded recruitment company, we’re experts at securing top talent that thrives in early-stage tech businesses. Similar to top recruitment agencies in London, we have an amazing network of candidates - but, unlike them, we work on a fixed cost basis, which means we’re typically 63% less expensive than traditional recruitment agencies. Think RPO recruitment with better bedside manner 🥳 Plus, we’ll set you up for hiring success so you can do it without us in the future. No long contracts. Guaranteed hires. Don't take our word for it, check out our [our testimonials](https://www.wearemove.com/testimonials) . - Article sources LinkedIn Ads Blog, *[How to Boost Your B2B Content Strategy, and the LinkedIn Page Features That Can Help](https://www.linkedin.com/business/marketing/blog/content-marketing/the-ultimate-guide-to-improve-your-b2b-content-marketing-strategy) –*accessed 11/07/2023 #### Adriano Herdman Co-founder of Move, embedded talent consultancy. Faster, more efficient talent acquisition for Seed to Series C tech companies. [Read more](https://seedlegals.com/resources/author/adriano-herdman/) [https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianoherdman1/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianoherdman1/) Next up in [SeedLegals Academy](https://seedlegals.com/seedlegals-academy/) [How much should I pay my team? UK startup salaries revealed](https://seedlegals.com/resources/uk-startup-salaries/) ## Related posts [4 min read How to get your first hire right: tips for startups How do you attract the right candidates? And how do you make sure your first hire works out? In this post, a talent acqu... Adriano Herdman](https://seedlegals.com/resources/hiring-first-employee/) [11 min read Share options explained: the essential guide for UK startups Want to offer your team equity in your company? Our guide covers the facts about share options: how and when to set up a... Kaylin Sullivan](https://seedlegals.com/resources/share-options-explained/) [7 min read What’s an NDA and when does your startup need one? Protect your intellectual property and sensitive information with a legally binding non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Find... Kirsty MacSween](https://seedlegals.com/resources/non-disclosure-agreement/)