🙅🏻‍♀️ stop hiring for “experience” (do THIS instead)

Welcome back, ! I recently got this reply from a reader named Angie: "Biggest challenge? Hiring and having productive employees who actually work." If you've ever struggled with finding (or keeping) the right people, you're not alone. At TA, we built our team with several zero-experience hires—and it worked. Why? Because we focused on systems, training, and culture, not just résumés.   👋 Meet The Team: Cameron (Newsletter Ops Mgr) – Came to us through a referral, fresh out of college (my fave Gen Z'er). We weren't even hiring at the time, but after meeting her, we brought her on for social media. Four promotions later, she's my right hand. Thania (Content Mgr) – We've been best friends since age 4. She's never had a role like this before, but who could channel my vibe better than the person who's known me forever? Kristel (Marketing Assistant) – Once a teacher in Lebanon, now she keeps The Assist running smoothly behind the scenes. She supports Cam and me on news ops and content projects—turns out, wrangling marketing tasks isn't all that different from managing a classroom. Carri (Copywriter) – Spent years as a Quality Engineer in manufacturing before deciding to finally pursue her passion for writing. Now, she helps shape The Assist's voice. Ivette (Admin Assistant) – We originally brought Ivette on to help upload content across our media properties, but she quickly proved she was so much more. She picks up new tools and processes fast and now handles all things admin. The point? Experience isn't everything. 🤔 What I Look for in Teammates When I hire, I'm not scanning for the perfect résumé—I'm looking for: Problem-solvers – People who figure things out, even when they don't have all the answers. They don't stop at "I don't know"—they take initiative, get resourceful, and come back with solutions. A willingness to learn – Give me someone coachable over someone "qualified" any day. Skills can be taught, but curiosity, adaptability, and a get-it-done attitude? That's what makes someone invaluable. Great communication – Remote work requires people who overcommunicate, not under. Clarity beats assumptions every time—whether it's asking the right questions, looping in the right people, or proactively updating the team before anyone has to ask.   🛠️ The Hiring & Onboarding Tools That Make It Easier Hiring the right people is step one—but getting them up to speed quickly? That's where great onboarding tools come in. Rippling – Automates payroll, benefits, and even device management. Bonus: They're giving $100 to anyone who learns more. Get your $100 here → Greenhouse – My HR bestie swears by this for tracking candidates, managing interviews, and streamlining hiring decisions. BambooHR – Simplifies onboarding with automated checklists, e-signatures, and self-service employee portals. Paychex – A solid payroll and HR solution for small to mid-sized businesses, handling everything from direct deposits to tax compliance. GoCo – Think of it as your HR command center—onboarding, payroll, and benefits all in one place. Upwork – When you need top-tier freelancers fast, this is where to find them—whether it's for design, writing, or admin support. 📚 Setting Up New Hires for Success Once you find the right people, the next challenge? Making sure they thrive. Here's how we set up our team for success from day one: Notion – Our go-to for internal documentation, SOPs, and knowledge-sharing. Loom – We record quick explainer videos for repeatable tasks, so no one has to re-explain them 100 times. 🔄 Streamlining Operations Scaling a team means scaling how we work. These tools help us move faster and stay aligned: GoHighLevel – A powerhouse for automating client communications, pipelines, and marketing workflows—all in one platform. Fellow – Keeps meeting notes structured and actionable, so every discussion leads to clear next steps. monday.com – Manages our team workflows, from content planning to task tracking. Smartsheet – Keeps key reports, workflows, and team metrics organized. HubSpot – Our CRM and marketing automation hub. Hiring the right people is just the start—setting them up for success is what actually makes a team pop off. The right systems, tools, and a culture of support can turn zero-experience hires into MVPs. ✅ Coming Up Next Keeping your team engaged and motivated doesn't happen by accident. A strong culture, clear communication, and a little fun go a long way. Tomorrow, I'll share how we build a team culture that people actually love being part of—without forced fun or cringey icebreakers. More soon, —Joanna P.S. Let's connect on Slack. Join our private community here! 🚀 You were sent this message because you opted-in and subscribed to The Assist. If you believe this has been sent to you in error, you can safely ignore it, or you can unsubscribe here.