When is The Right Time to Make Your First HR Hire?

Candidate Insights

Oct 19

I ACTUALLY ASK THIS QUESTION OFTEN AS MY COMPANY HAS 27 EMPLOYEES AND COUNTING.

Over the past 6 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to work for Juno Search Partners. A certified, woman-owned talent solutions firm based in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia.

When I first started at Juno, I was the 6th employee and I couldn't foresee us having an HR person at the time. In the back of my mind I always thought that if we had HR we could no longer wear ripped jeans or graphic t-shirts, come in late or leave early, have a messy bun, work from home, have happy hours, you know – all the fun and exciting perks that make up our outstanding culture. But, watching us grow to where we are today has made me think way differently. And I think to myself, maybe it’s our time…

As the leader of our Philly HR and Ops division, I often like to refer myself as a matchmaker, counselor, coach, therapist or whatever you want to call it, to most of my clients and candidates. Over the years, I’ve placed talented professionals in fortune 500, mid-sized, start-up and hyper growth companies across the region. Our division covers everything from placing Talent Acquisition to CHRO’s, People Operations to VP of Operations, and everything in-between.

I’d like to say that my bread & butter is placing a company’s first ever HR person. There’s just something about placing the first HR hire that gets me excited. I get to provide insight, subject matter expertise and a consultative approach to see what fits best for our client and their company.

SO, BACK TO THE QUESTION AT HAND…WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE YOUR FIRST HR HIRE?

If your company is close to 50 employees or more then I’m talking to you. HR will make your life easier in the short and long haul…I can promise you that. If you’re projecting growth and want to get top talent in the door, you should hire HR. In smaller companies, typically, HR’s responsibilities are dispersed amongst several employees or management - why not take it off their plates and bring in a top-notch expert who knows employment law and best practices. I could go on and on with reasons why an HR professional could be right for you…

The list below will give you pointers on the core HR functions that your first HR hire should have exposure and experience with. I always suggest a well-rounded, experienced, HR professional who started their career in recruitment. Don’t get me wrong, HR is always evolving into something greater and better but here’s a starting point:

Hiring and selection
Performance and Talent Management
Training and advancement
Succession planning
Data & Analytics
HR Systems and Technology
Total Rewards
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Employee Engagement
Health and wellness

There comes a time where you need to invest in hiring an HR person, so why not now? Make sure you do your research and homework when you’re ready to make this crucial hire. If you’re looking for some advice or feedback on what to do, just pick up the phone & call me!

To be honest, this is the first blog I’ve ever written at Juno (and I’m nervous!). This topic excites me so much, and it’s my passion, that I have convinced Mikal and Vicki to add a People & Culture person in the future. Could it be you? Stay tuned…