Lori Torres - Diligence and Vetting are Critical in Building an Outstanding Company

Invest the time to really get to know the people you are going to hire. Especially in the beginning stages of your company. Be picky! Your companies success hinges on your ability to hire people who will help push the car uphill. Do not let your need to hire override the fit for both parties.

Today's Quote:

"Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence." 

-Buddha

Show highlights

• • Experience hiring at the early stages
  • Hiring challenges as you grow
  • Provide solutions for hiring through the various stages

Your experience when you first started hiring & received the funding, what happened next?

• Hard to hire- Keys: networking & due diligence
• First 60-70 people came from referrals
• Plan out company needs
• Build, cultivate and maintain a candidate pipeline
• Utilize your Referral network

The challenges you faced

• Attraction in a tight job market
• Company’s mission vs. $$
• Think in a bigger way
• Ignoring people’s bias
• Ways to measure ownership in an interview
  • needed big thinkers & doers
• Desperation takes over & bad hires result
• Your need overwhelms your reason sometimes
• Hired a person hastily, due to desperate need and it was not a good fit for either party. 

Start with your Core Company Values

• Why these values?
• Integrity
• Comradery
• Customer Centric
• Relentless
• Solution finders
• Knowing & Living your company values!

Interview process:

• Garnering accurate information! -The Truth! 
• Interview process:
• Interview tools for vetting-
  • culture index
• Interview- multiple times, 3+ interviews-* test endurance  … up to 5 people interviews - own agenda.
• Due diligence & vetting
  • Checking references!
  • Backdoor references
• Leading people down the path
  • Betterment of both parties -healing a wound
• Preparation for the desired outcome

 Take Aways

• Use outside resources to hire
• Ask for help... people are willing help you!
• Believe in and listen to your Gut
• Planning for the desired outcome
• Hiring is not a sprint, it is a marathonResult of proper veting is a great company

Lori A. Torres is the founder and CEO of Parcel Pending, the nation’s leading provider of innovative package management solutions. Prior to Parcel Pending, Lori was SVP of property operations at The Irvine Company.

She has been recognized on multiple occasions for her leadership, including being named 2017 “Innovator of the Year” by the Orange County Business Journal and chosen as one of 13 entrepreneurs admitted into the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ 2017 North America class.