How do you know if someone is right for a position at a startup?

For many people, starting their own business is a dream come true. There is an equally large group who would love to work for a startup, because they see a future full of adventure. At most startups, an employee’s role and responsibilities are not well-defined, but will evolve and take shape over time. This offers opportunities for growth.

Last but certainly not least, of course, is the opportunity to cash in big time if the startup turns out to be a success. There are many stories of people who joined a startup and gained prestige and won prizes and stock options that they could later sell for millions.

That all sounds much more appealing than working for a multi-million-dollar company where you are just one of thousands of employees working in a more rigid environment.

The grass is always greener on the other size. Those in a collective employment agreement job may have a distorted view of working at a startup. It is not an adventure without risk. After all, this job does offer extra days off, an end-of-year bonus, a salary that is "in line with the market," plus a pension plan. Often, even training is well organized. With startups, these comfortable ‘basics’ are often not guaranteed.

The freedom that results from non-standardized processes, positions that are fluid, and an ad hoc HR process has a downside. Not everyone flourishes in a world without structure.

Anyone wishing to work for a startup must bring different competencies to the table than those who want to work for a corporate (or SME) company. Drive and passion are indispensable, because in a startup, you are expected to take initiative. Self-starting ability is paramount. Furthermore, you need to be able to improvise well and be flexible. You must thrive in chaos and be a jack of all trades. One day you might be busy with customers, and the next you might spend hours doing analyses.

The big question is whether those competencies are present to a sufficient degree. Of course, you find out for yourself, but if a new employee drops out after just six months, it's unpleasant for everyone. For the startup especially, finding a replacement is costly in terms of time, energy, and money. A single lost employee can leave the team struggling to keep up with the workload. Productivity is undeniably lost.

For the employee, it is of course just as unpleasant to have to report to the UWV and to restart the job application process. Moreover, a negative experience can give a serious blow to self-confidence. This can continue to affect someone's career for years afterward.

Larger and mid-sized companies have been using assessments for years to test whether a candidate possesses the right competencies to be successful in a particular job or position. In the beginning, these were time-consuming procedures, with the candidate enduring a full day of testing and interviews by a psychologist.

Currently, many practical online assessments are available. TestGroup has even developed an online assessment specifically for startups. Scientists and practitioners worked together to ensure that this test is scientifically sound, valid, and providing value.

The online assessment for startups enables entrepreneurs to gain insight into the personality, skills, and competencies of applicants to their startup in an accessible way. In addition, the online assessment can be used to reveal the hidden potential of existing employees in a startup.

Taking an online assessment for startups is as easy as ordering a cup of coffee. Request the test and it will be ready for your candidate in just 30 minutes. They will fill out the questionnaire, and the smart algorithms will begin analyzing their responses as soon as the submission is received. As a result, you will receive a clear and comprehensive report within 45 minutes.

Thanks to this practical and transparent assessment report, you can make the right decisions regarding career issues and development paths. And yes, the online assessment can also help you determine when an employee is not in the right place and in which role they’d be a better fit.

Because the startup scene is very internationally oriented, entrepreneurs often have to deal with international applicants.

Accordingly, the online assessment for startups is available in 20 languages (and in each language is scientifically substantiated, reliable, and valid) and can be taken for candidates for positions at different levels of education.

An assessment used to be something only the big boys could afford. But, thanks to the online assessment, every company can reap the benefits, including your startup.