Transforming Recruitment for Technology-Driven Growth at HiPages

‍HiPages is Australia’s leading platform for hiring tradespeople, connecting over 100,000 service providers with homeowners and businesses. With a team of more than 300 staff, HiPages is one of Australia’s most successful double-sided marketplaces. The company has ambitious plans for technology-driven growth, aiming to scale its product development and marketing capabilities.

In 2016, HiPages secured $40 million in funding from News Corp, marking a new stage of growth and solidifying its position as a market leader. To execute this vision, HiPages needed to recruit 35 critical roles across Product, Engineering, Design, and Marketing—a challenge for which it engaged Think & Grow.

The Challenge: Scaling for Technology-Driven Growth

HiPages faced several key challenges as it sought to expand its team:

1. Volume and Specialisation of Roles:
   Recruiting 35 roles across highly specialised areas, such as product development and engineering, required a thoughtful and systematic approach.
2. Cultural Alignment:
   The company needed to attract talent that not only had the skills but could also embrace and enhance HiPages’ vision for a unique and innovative product.
3. Internal Recruitment Structure:
   HiPages’ recruitment processes were outdated, relying entirely on outsourced recruiters and lacking an internal system to manage hiring efficiently.

Think & Grow’s Approach to Transforming Recruitment

Think & Grow developed a comprehensive strategy to address HiPages’ recruitment challenges and build a sustainable hiring framework:

1. Building Organisational Alignment:
   Think & Grow started by fostering visibility and alignment around recruitment. They educated HiPages’ managers on the recruitment process through one-on-one meetings, coaching, and workshops.
2. Streamlining Recruitment Operations:
   A Kanban board was set up behind the CEO’s desk, offering a transparent view of recruitment progress. Recruitment stand-ups were held twice weekly, led by Think & Grow Partner Anthony Sochan, to share updates, set goals, and invite executive team participation.
3. Challenging the Status Quo:
   Think & Grow introduced innovative ideas, such as connecting HiPages with other successful organizations to explore alternative recruitment strategies and operational models.
4. Embedding Within the Business:
   The team worked closely with HiPages to identify its unique challenges and opportunities, tailoring recruitment strategies to meet its long-term goals.

Outcomes: Meeting and Exceeding Recruitment Goals

After 18 months, Think & Grow delivered exceptional results for HiPages:

• All 35 Roles Filled:
  Key hires included top talent from the U.S., enhancing the company’s engineering and product capabilities.
• Shift in Strategic Focus:
  HiPages pivoted towards engineering and product development, reducing its reliance on sales and marketing.
• Improved Recruitment Infrastructure:
  Think & Grow implemented a new recruitment system to store CVs and interview notes, creating a sustainable internal process for future hiring.
• Strengthened Employment Brand:
  HiPages increased referral numbers and built a stronger employer reputation, reducing reliance on external recruiters. Today, 80% of roles are recruited in-house compared to 100% reliance on outsourced recruitment previously.

Client Feedback: Building Long-Term Recruitment Success

David Vitek, CEO and Co-Founder of HiPages, praised Think & Grow’s transformative approach:

• On Partnership and Expertise:
• “I like how they challenged the thinking, challenged the status quo, and were really creative with the thinking and solutions. They introduced me and the team to other organisations to learn how they do it as well, influencing the way our organization could work.”
• On Lasting Impact:
• “When Think & Grow came in, they got us up and running. But when they transitioned out, they taught us how to fish, as it were, to set us up for the future. Compared to a lot of other consultants, they have a lot of experience working with tech companies. They are a very good thought partner that can really help you think through the challenges of growing a team.”

Key Takeaways for HiPages’ Recruitment Transformation

This case study illustrates how Think & Grow enabled HiPages to scale its recruitment operations, align its hiring processes with long-term goals, and foster a culture of innovation.

By embedding within the organisation and challenging conventional thinking, Think & Grow equipped HiPages with the tools and strategies to sustain growth and continue its journey as a market leader in technology-driven hiring platforms.

For more information about how Think & Grow can support your recruitment needs, visit Think & Grow.

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