How Personio scaled their team in the Nordics?

Podcast Summary: Episode of #TalentBuzz with Guest Maria Duni from Personio

Host: Discusses talent acquisition in SaaS companies.Guest: Maria Duni, Country Manager at Personio.

Maria's Background and Role at Personio:

• Joined Personio: About one and a half years ago.
• Task: Tasked with expanding Personio’s presence in the Nordic market.
• Team Growth: Grew the Nordic team from 4-5 to 18 members with the support of the talent acquisition team.

Challenges and Growth:

• Rapid Expansion: Personio grew from 600 to over 1,600 employees in a year and a half.
• Unique Culture: Despite growth, the company maintains its ambitious and passionate culture.

Strategies for Team Expansion:

• Focusing on Sales Development Representatives and Account Executives: Primary goal to onboard new customers.
• Implementation Managers and Growth Managers: Handle post-sale processes.

Impact of Funding Rounds:

• Major Investments: Personio raised significant funds in 2021 and 2022.
• Inclusive Hiring Processes: Funding allowed for investment in inclusive hiring practices and attending events for underrepresented groups.
• Employee Training: Focus on anti-bias and diversity training for hiring managers and talent acquisition team.

Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) in the Nordics:

• Persona Studies: Personio conducts studies on D&I in the Nordic region.
• Techniques for Inclusive Hiring: Including targeting underrepresented groups and ensuring equitable application processes.

Global vs. Local Talent Acquisition:

• Combination Approach: Personio uses both global and local teams for recruiting.
• Global Team: Ensures consistency and standardization in employer branding.
• Local Team: Offers insight into market-specific dynamics and team culture.

Recruitment Process:

• Headcount Planning: Process begins with determining required team size for achieving goals.
• Job Posting and Applications: Standardized job descriptions are created, posted, and applications are received through Personio’s platform.
• Hiring Process: Involves talent acquisition managers, hiring managers, and a value-adding step focused on company values and culture.

Validating Sales Skills:

• Focus on Attitude and Mindset: Questions during interviews aim to assess resilience, solution-oriented attitudes, and curiosity.
• Skill Assessment: Tailored to the role, including case studies and practical tasks.

Final Thoughts:

• Feedback and Coachability: Emphasizes the importance of feedback and adaptability in the hiring process.
• Closing Remarks: Encourages listeners to share the episode and follow the podcast for more insights on talent acquisition in SaaS companies.

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