How I Hire Engineers for My Early Stage Startup – LinkedIn vs. Upwork
11 days ago
- #remote-work
- #startups
- #hiring
- Early-stage startups benefit from face-to-face collaboration but can hire remotely for cost savings by hiring internationally and flying periodically for in-person co-working.
- LinkedIn job postings can generate too many applications, making screening time-consuming for solo founders.
- Upwork is a viable alternative for hiring remote talent quickly, especially for early-stage startups without a clear product spec.
- Hire freelancers directly, not agencies, to avoid overhead and ensure you interview the actual developer.
- Screening process includes posting clear job descriptions, filtering top 10%+ badge freelancers, and checking for hidden agencies.
- Key interview questions focus on project understanding, willingness for face-to-face meetings, AI tool usage, and communication ease.
- Paid trial tasks (up to 8 hours) help verify freelancer skills and discourage interview proxies.
- Cost optimization tips include using basic Upwork membership and hiring international senior engineers for 2-4x headcount on the same budget.