How to Build a Successful Startup with Language Assessment

Pipplet • oct. 06, 2020

A startup can develop products and services so disruptive that they end up changing the way we think about business.  Yet to grow your startup, expand your reach, and enter new markets, you’ll need to build a team. So how do you go about doing so? It’s not necessarily an easy task, but it’s far from impossible. We take a look at what such a team needs, how to choose the right personnel for it, and how language assessment can play a central role.

Build a successful startup

Assembling a team of the right people can seem like a daunting process. Before you can get onto the task of talent acquisition, you need to know what traits and skills to look out for. Your exact requirements will depend on the industry you operate in, but there are some things that all successful sales teams need:

  • Communication. Regular communication is essential for driving success, and it has to be a two-way process. You need to be able to deliver instructions that are going to be understood, as well as hear the thoughts, updates, and concerns from your team. 
  • A diverse skill set. Assembling a startup team means having a broad set of knowledge. Not everyone needs to fill the same role. Instead, you want to identify and bring out different strengths across your employees. 
  • Coachability. As well as current skills, your team needs to be coachable. Developing the skills and knowledge of your experts will continue to drive success. 
  • Passion. The people who make up your team need to have the motivation to do well. Passion for sales, marketing, and the industry you’re in can go a long way, and it’s something that clients and customers respond well to. 
  • A straightforward onboarding process. You want new members of your startup team to hit the ground running. An onboarding process that facilitates this is essential, allowing new hires to make an impact from the off. 

How to choose the right personnel

So, we know what a successful startup team looks like, but how do you go about finding the right people? Again, this is easier said than done, particularly when you’re flooded with applicants. However, there are some steps you can take to make the process easier: 



  • Identify your needs. First and foremost, you need to outline exactly what you need from your candidates. A detailed job spec that’s based on the factors mentioned above is an ideal place to start. 
  • Find the right candidates. With your candidate requirements outlined in detail, you can start looking for the right people to interview. You want to make sure you’re reaching a wide enough audience to have variety, while still focusing on the skills and knowledge that really matter. 
  • Give a comprehensive interview. The interview process can be difficult, particularly in the current climate. As well as getting the right people in front of you, you’ll also want to make sure they fit your ethos and culture. 
  • Assess a range of skills. Just because a candidate looks good on paper doesn’t mean they’re going to help deliver business success. Whether you assess them before or after the interview stage, you’ll want to make sure you cover a range of different skills. 

How language assessment can help

Pipplet’s language assessments can help you find the right candidates to build a successful startup team.

We haven’t mentioned language assessment so far, at least, not directly. However, it can play a crucial role in assembling a startup team. This is especially true if you have a team that’s operating on an international or multilingual scale


There are several factors why a service like Pipplet’s language tests can place a central role when recruiting qualified people: 


  • It tests communication.  As we’ve established, your startup team members need to be able to communicate well. This is true across multiple situations and formats. A language assessment from Pipplet examines speaking, reading, and writing skills. 
  • It easily narrows the field. Our tests are entirely scalable. So, no matter how many candidates you’re expecting, you can instantly send out enough tests to meet demand. You can then easily compare which candidates meet your requirements and which don’t. 
  • It gives situational questions. Language ability is about more than just grammar and vocabulary. With a Pipplet test, candidates will be given situation-based questions, ensuring that they’re proficient in the areas you need them to be. 
  • It provides detailed feedback. With a detailed CEFR Score for each of the key language areas, you’ll be able to identify the candidates that best suit your business. Similarly, you’ll be able to spot those with the potential to develop and grow with your sales team. 

Final Thoughts

Building a successful startup team takes time and know-how. You’ll need access to a diverse and skilled pool of professionals, and must be able to effectively communicate with them. With a language assessment during recruitment, you can make the process easier and more accurate.



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