How do you avoid hiring the wrong people for your start up?
Answers
Focus on why they are looking to join a "start-up." I have worked for a few start-ups. It is great, but you need to have the skills to do everything from investor relations, customer relationship development, and ordering pens and papers. Everyone will say they are a "roll-up the sleaves person," but few are. Turn-over is disruptive, especially for a start-up. Focus on the personality.
You also need to find people who are truly motivated by the mission statement of the business. The excitement, the ability to be part of an entity that will [ultimately] morph into a industry leader.
That's getting harder and harder to find as the flip side are low salaries and long hours. Also overly idealistic individuals burn out faster; since expectation and realities never really meet.