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Lessons learned from building a design team from 0 to 20 in just over a year. A thread:
1. Great talent can come from literally any background
Our researchers have come from other careers and are some of the best I've ever worked with. Our designers are from a mix of experience levels, and they sharpen each other, and me.
Our researchers have come from other careers and are some of the best I've ever worked with. Our designers are from a mix of experience levels, and they sharpen each other, and me.
2. Hiring is a shared responsibility
I've learned to align our team on values and inclusion and they mostly argue it out with each other on hiring.
My role is to keep those values crystal clear as we scale.
I've learned to align our team on values and inclusion and they mostly argue it out with each other on hiring.
My role is to keep those values crystal clear as we scale.
3. Focus on Values
We focus on the values that drive our candidates and align those to ours. Everyone in the hiring team has a clear sense of exactly what we mean by culture-fit and as a team we look for everyone's culture-add as we make decisions.
We focus on the values that drive our candidates and align those to ours. Everyone in the hiring team has a clear sense of exactly what we mean by culture-fit and as a team we look for everyone's culture-add as we make decisions.
4. Root for the candidates
We WANT to add people to our team. It's our value to see what others can bring. We try to find the best in everyone we talk to. Every candidate has an advocate in our hiring process. Every single candidate.
We WANT to add people to our team. It's our value to see what others can bring. We try to find the best in everyone we talk to. Every candidate has an advocate in our hiring process. Every single candidate.
5. Say what you mean
We sometimes turn candidates down in an interview. When this happens we give them clear feedback, and explain why we won't be taking them on. This is always unambiguous and clear.
We sometimes turn candidates down in an interview. When this happens we give them clear feedback, and explain why we won't be taking them on. This is always unambiguous and clear.
6. Give Candidates Feedback
We care about providing feedback to people. Be direct and clear with candidates. Help them not make the same mistakes.
We care about providing feedback to people. Be direct and clear with candidates. Help them not make the same mistakes.
7. As a candidate a little effort goes a long way.
We don't do homework, but a cover letter and being ready to answer questions about why you like our company is a sign of investment. We appreciate it.
We don't do homework, but a cover letter and being ready to answer questions about why you like our company is a sign of investment. We appreciate it.
8. There will always be hard choices.
There are lots of good candidates out there and we discuss every single one as a team and curate the very best. We keep ourselves to high standards, but that doesn't mean we sacrifice on diversity.
There are lots of good candidates out there and we discuss every single one as a team and curate the very best. We keep ourselves to high standards, but that doesn't mean we sacrifice on diversity.
9. Diversity is always possible.
There are now 21 people in our design org. We have 12 nationalities represented a great mix of gender representation. We didn't plan it that way, we just focused on being inclusive and open to people.
There are now 21 people in our design org. We have 12 nationalities represented a great mix of gender representation. We didn't plan it that way, we just focused on being inclusive and open to people.
10. The team owns itself
I set values and make sure we work towards them together, but the team owns itself and holds itself accountable. They're not MY team, we're ONE team.
We hold each other accountable, and we sharpen each other together. This gives us great results.
I set values and make sure we work towards them together, but the team owns itself and holds itself accountable. They're not MY team, we're ONE team.
We hold each other accountable, and we sharpen each other together. This gives us great results.
11. There is always more to be done
You can't ever do it all in one day, so don't force it. Focus on doing a few important things each day, and the rest will sort itself.
You can't ever do it all in one day, so don't force it. Focus on doing a few important things each day, and the rest will sort itself.
12. Interviewers are responsible for learning about candidates
âI donât have enough infoâ is a failure of the interviewer, not the candidate.
It's OUR responsibility to ensure we have everything we need to understand about a candidate to make a good decision.
âI donât have enough infoâ is a failure of the interviewer, not the candidate.
It's OUR responsibility to ensure we have everything we need to understand about a candidate to make a good decision.
