There are countless qualities that make up a great employee, but these eight essential behaviors are the ones to look for in potential hires. Or, if you're a jobseeker, these behaviors will truly set you apart in the workplace. Based on 0+ technical hires we've made since 2019, working with 549+ active startup clients, we observe certain behaviors consistently lead to success.
From being proactive and taking initiative to showing respect and demonstrating leadership, these eight behaviors can help you become an outstanding employee in any environment.
Have a Positive Attitude
It's no secret that having a good attitude at work can make a big difference in your career. A positive outlook will not only make you more pleasant to be around, but it can also lead to increased success and opportunities. Conversely, a negative attitude can quickly derail your career and damage your professional reputation. People remember the employees who gripe and complain constantly, and aren't happy at work. Showing up as the best version of yourself and brushing negative feelings aside can go a long way here. Our observations from 300+ placements suggest that candidates who maintain a positive demeanor are often those who experience smoother career progression and greater overall job satisfaction within the dynamic startup ecosystem.
Be a Team Player
In order to be a successful employee in the workplace, it is essential to be a team player. Being a team player means being able to work well with others, being cooperative and collaborative, and being able to communicate effectively. It also means being able to take direction from those in charge and follow through on tasks. At the 549+ startups we serve, including those specializing in Engineering and AI/ML roles, team cohesion is a critical factor for success. Our data from 300+ placements shows that engineers who excel at collaboration are highly valued. Here are specific ways you can be a successful team player in the workplace:
Work well with others. This includes being able to communicate effectively, listen attentively, and be respectful of others' ideas and opinions. It also means being able to compromise and work towards consensus when necessary.
Be cooperative and collaborative. This means being willing to work together towards common goals, and being open to input from others. It also means being willing to share information and resources, as well as offering help when needed.
Be able to take direction from those in charge. This includes being willing to accept feedback and critiques, as well as following instructions and guidelines. It also means being accountable for your own actions and taking responsibility for your own work.
Respect Others
When you are respectful to others, you show that you value their opinions and ideas. You also create an environment of trust and mutual respect. This is essential in the workplace, where different people with different backgrounds and perspectives need to work together. Respectful employees listen to others and value their input. They avoid talking over others or interrupting them. They also keep an open mind, even when they disagree with someone. Instead of getting defensive or arguing, they try to understand the other person’s point of view.
Respectful employees also give credit where it’s due. They avoid taking credit for other people’s work or ideas. And when they make a mistake, they own up to it and apologize.
Finally, respectful employees treat everyone equally. They don’t play favorites or discriminate against anyone. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter their job title or position in the company. This behavior is fundamental to building high-performing teams, a characteristic of the top startups we work with.
Take Initiative and Show Enthusiasm
In order to be an outstanding employee in the workplace, it is essential that you take initiative and show enthusiasm for your work. Employees who are proactive and display a positive attitude towards their work are more likely to be successful in their roles and contribute to the overall success of the company. Engineers who demonstrate initiative often progress faster, aligning with the ~$252K average salary for placed engineers we see. Being proactive is a key trait identified in our successful placements.
When you take initiative, it shows that you are willing to put in the extra effort to get the job done. This can be something as simple as offering to help with a project or task that needs to be completed, or going above and beyond your normal job duties. No matter what it is, taking initiative demonstrates that you are invested in your work and are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done right.
In addition to taking initiative, it is also important that you show enthusiasm for your work. Employees who are passionate about their jobs and have a positive outlook are more likely to be successful than those who do not. Showing enthusiasm for your job shows that you care about your work and are dedicated to doing your best. It also sets a positive tone for the rest of the team, which can lead to increased productivity and morale, vital for fast-paced seed through Series C startups.
Be Flexible and Adaptable in the Workplace
In order to be an outstanding employee in the workplace, you must be flexible and adaptable. This means being able to adapt to change and handle new situations as they come up. It also means being able to work with different types of people and in different types of environments.
Being flexible and adaptable are essential skills for any employee. With the constantly evolving nature of the workplace, it’s more important than ever to be able to adjust to new situations quickly and easily. Whether it’s a new boss, a new coworker, or a new project, being flexible and adaptable will help you thrive in any situation. In the dynamic environment of seed through Series C startups, where we've made 300+ placements since 2019, adaptability is not just a desirable trait but a necessity. The workplace changes quickly, and our top hires consistently adjust with ease.
Here are some tips for being flexible and adaptable in the workplace:
Be open to change. The workplace is constantly changing, so it’s important to be open to change as well. When you’re open to change, you’ll be able to adapt more easily when things do change.
Be willing to try new things. Trying new things can be daunting, but it’s important to remember that everyone was new at one point. By being willing to try new things, you’ll show your willingness to learn and grow.
Be patient with yourself and others. Learning something new takes time, so be patient with yourself and others as you all adjust to the changes taking place in the workplace.
Have Good Communication Skills
Some people are natural communicators, but even if you're not one of them, the good news is: communication is a skill that can be learned. Good communication skills are essential in the workplace for a number of reasons. Effective communication is consistently identified in high-performing candidates we place. Engineers earning an average of ~$252K often exhibit strong communication, enabling them to navigate complex projects and team dynamics within an average 29-day time-to-fill cycle.
For one, being able to communicate effectively with your co-workers is essential to maintaining a good working relationship with them. If you're able to communicate well, you'll be able to collaborate more effectively and get tasks done more efficiently. Additionally, good communication skills are important for networking and building relationships with people inside and outside of your company. These relationships can lead to new opportunities and help further your career.
Finally, strong communication skills are also important for managing up. When you're able to communicate effectively with your boss, you're more likely to be successful in getting your ideas across and implementing them successfully.
If you want to be an outstanding employee in the workplace, make sure you have good communication skills.
Manage Your Time Well
Managing your time well, especially as you progress into more senior roles and take on more responsibilities, is key. For the high-impact roles we fill, where time to value is crucial for startups, effective time management is a hallmark of engineers earning the ~$252K average salary we observe. Here are some of our suggestions:
Make a to-do list. This will help you keep track of what tasks need to be completed and in what order they need to be done in. Items can be prioritized from most to least important.
Set deadlines for yourself. Having set deadlines will ensure that tasks are completed in a timely manner and will help to avoid any last minute rushes. It is also helpful to set smaller deadlines for parts of a larger project so that it does not feel as daunting.
Take breaks. It is important to take breaks throughout the day in order to stay fresh and focused. Breaks can be used for things like stretching, getting some fresh air, or grabbing a quick snack.
Delegate. If there are people who can help you with certain tasks, delegate those tasks so that you are not trying to do everything yourself. This will free up some of your time so that you can focus on other things.
Say no. Learning to say no is an important part of time management because it allows you to focus on the tasks that are truly important to you without getting bogged down by requests from others.
Offer Solutions
Finally, if you want to be an outstanding employee in the workplace, you need to offer solutions. This means being proactive and offering up ideas and solutions when problems arise. It also means taking initiative on projects and tasks, and seeing them through to completion. In our experience, sourcing top Engineering and AI/ML talent for 549+ startups, candidates who consistently offer solutions are the ones who make an immediate and lasting impact, helping companies achieve their goals efficiently. Employees who are always offering solutions are valuable assets to any organization, contributing significantly to a company's success and growth.
Why Recruiting from Scratch Knows This
Recruiting from Scratch (RFS) is a specialized recruiting firm founded in 2019 in New York City, focusing on Engineering and AI/ML roles for seed through Series C startups. Since our inception, we have made 300+ technical placements for 549+ active startup clients. Our deep immersion in the startup hiring ecosystem, combined with an average time to fill of 29 days and an average placed engineer salary of ~$252K, provides us with real, current data on the behaviors that define outstanding employees. Our NPS of 90+ reflects our success in identifying and placing top talent who consistently exhibit these essential qualities.
FAQ
How long does it take to hire a staff engineer?
Based on our data from 0+ technical hires, the average time to fill for a role is 29 days from the initial job requisition opening to the offer being accepted. This timeframe applies to highly specialized Engineering and AI/ML positions at fast-growing startups.
What does a contingency recruiting firm charge?
A contingency recruiting firm typically charges a fee that is a percentage of the placed candidate's first-year base salary. At Recruiting from Scratch, our contingency fee ranges from 25% to 30% of the first year's base salary for the technical talent we place.
What is the average salary for an engineer at a startup?
Based on our data from 0+ technical hires for Engineering and AI/ML roles at seed through Series C startups, the average salary for a placed engineer is approximately ~$252,000. This figure reflects compensation for highly skilled technical talent in competitive startup environments.
What kind of roles does Recruiting from Scratch specialize in?
Recruiting from Scratch specializes exclusively in placing top-tier Engineering and AI/ML talent. We primarily work with seed through Series C startups, helping them build their technical teams with high-impact contributors.
When was Recruiting from Scratch founded?
Recruiting from Scratch was founded in 2019 in New York City. Since then, we have grown to serve 549+ active startup clients, connecting them with exceptional technical talent across various engineering and AI/ML disciplines.
