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If you've got time for the long game, consider building your network by mentoring STEM students. Years ago at a previous job my boss donated a CAD workstation
by elevation 5y ago
If you've got time for the long game, consider building your network by mentoring STEM students.
Years ago at a previous job my boss donated a CAD workstation and some CNC time to the local public highschool's robotics team, then coordinated with their supervising teacher to have a couple employees (including me) mentor there one afternoon per week for the school year.
As a mentor, I helped students understand compiler errors, recommended writing a function instead of repeatedly typing the same code, and also gave more advanced advice, like explaining how PID loops could prevent gears from stripping. It was rewarding to see these students both grow and enjoy the learning process.
It also paid dividends for my boss when some of these students applied for summer internship at our company, which eventually led to several excellent full time hires after college, including referrals our interns had made to their fellow engineering students.
While it took a couple years to pay off, those few hours of community service introduced us to quality people that no jobs board could have.
- SQueeeeeL 5y ago>While it took a couple years to pay off You're operating under a time frame most startups don't dare. Most startups are trying to sell to a FAANG in the time it would take a highschool student to graduate undergrad.
- oneepic 5y agoThey did say "if you've got time for the long game".
- giantg2 5y agoPerhaps modify it? Mentor under your own name, form a network on LinkedIn, some of your former students will follow you into your next venture. You'll have a pool of potential candidates ready when you are.
- cuddlybacon 5y agoThe OP said they are a small company, not necessarily a startup.
- smoldesu 5y agoWish I had heard about these opportunities, I spent 5 years inside FRC and got nothing but this lousy t-shirt...
- 650REDHAIR 5y agoPart of Firebase's recruiting success was due to early engagement at collegiate hackathons. Top tier candidates were applying out of school because they liked working with the product and liked the team behind it. This is a great long tail suggestion. For the short term it's really about networking and poaching.