Hiring Beyond Resumes

Jojo Hedaya shares his unconventional hiring philosophy at Unroll.me, where they prioritize finding passionate, hardworking individuals over those with traditional credentials. This approach helped them build a successful team while competing against tech giants for talent.

Key Points:

• Core Hiring Philosophy:

  • "Fuck resumes" - traditional credentials aren't the priority
  • Look for "diamonds in the rough" rather than conventional candidates
  • Can't compete with Google/Facebook for traditional talent, so need different approach

• Ideal Candidate Profile:

  • People who may not have studied computer science but took coding classes
  • Individuals who want to do something different
  • Those willing to hustle and work hard to reach the next level

• Team Building Principles:

  • Focus on hiring smart people you want to spend time with
  • Build a family-like atmosphere
  • Value potential over experience

• Success Story Example:

  • Jack: Started as an intern doing support tickets
  • Progressed from sending t-shirts to leading product
  • Exemplifies the company's belief in developing talent internally

• Team Culture:

  • Emphasis on creating a family-first environment
  • Team activities like shared Thanksgiving meals
  • Strong belief that the team builds the company, not just the founder

• Hiring Strategy:

  • Take chances on people
  • Look for alternative ways to find talent
  • Focus on building long-term relationships with employees
  • Value cultural fit and work ethic over traditional qualifications

This approach enabled them to build a strong team despite limited resources and competition from larger tech companies.