Bridging the gap from start-up to established business
The Big Middle is a successful Cloud-focused IT solutions company with a thriving workforce of over 45 staff. Focused on the mid-market – businesses with revenue between $50 million and $1 billion – The Big Middle is built on a deep understanding of digital business needs in today’s environment of rapid change and remote workforces.
When Chief Executive Andrew McAdams founded the company two years ago, it was crucial he hired the right talent who could work in a startup and build the foundation for growth.
Flexibility and vision as critical candidate attributes
Starting from scratch, Andrew knew his first few hires needed to be people who flourished in the startup environment, and who would support his ability to scale.
“We were looking for a lot of flexibility and resilience. I needed people who could understand me quickly and know how to work in this environment, because it’s not for everyone. If you get the foundations wrong in a startup, you’re in a lot of trouble.”
Despite only initially looking for a handful of people, Andrew found the recruitment process as a startup challenging. He didn’t fully understand his new market and was hiring in some areas he hadn’t hired before. As a brand-new company without a website, it was also challenging to sell The Big Middle as an employer to potential candidates
He quickly realised he needed the right recruitment partner to help guide ideal candidates his way.
“I needed people with flexibility and resilience – people who could work in a startup environment.”
Practical and client-focused solutions
Having previously found recruitment agencies pushy and invasive, Andrew was initially apprehensive about outsourcing his recruitment. But meeting the Rainy Day team quickly allayed his concerns.
“John and the Rainy Day team are very straightforward, practical and focused on the long-term relationship. They also understood the challenges of hiring for a startup; knowing when to give me time to breathe and consider my next move.”
Andrew knew that a candidate with a flexible attitude and a strong cultural fit was just as important as the right qualifications and experience. He tapped into Rainy Day’s ability to identify the right people, even if they didn’t always match Andrew’s description on paper.
“John’s personality assessment skills are very high. Some of the people he put forward had a different skill profile to what I would naturally recruit for, but they have turned out to be our best hires and are doing an amazing job.”
“Of all the people John helped us hire, he got it right with every one.”
The right hires for the right time
Rainy Day Recruitment helped Andrew find the right people for The Big Middle’s startup phase, creating the foundation for today’s thriving team.
Rainy Day Recruitment caters for entrepreneurs by thinking creatively about timing, future opportunities and skillsets suited to a new enterprise.
“In the early stages, Rainy Day was key to my growth. If you don’t get the right people at the start, you’re going to put your business back at least two years.
“They never bombarded me with candidates; they only ever send those who are appropriate and relevant. I would happily recommend them.”
“Rainy Day was key to getting the right people and enabling my growth.”
