On this episode of the Startup Show, host John Biggs sat down with Max Kolysh, CEO of Dover, a recruiting platform designed to simplify and optimize the hiring process for startups. The conversation covered Dover’s journey, the challenges of startup recruiting, and the innovative solutions Dover offers to transform the way small businesses find and hire top talent.
Founded over five years ago, Dover has emerged as a critical tool for startups that often face unique recruiting challenges due to limited resources and budgets. It aims to streamline this process by providing an efficient and user-friendly platform that automates much of the repetitive work involved in recruiting.
Dover’s offerings start with a free applicant tracking system (ATS) that allows startups to post jobs, track candidates, and manage the entire hiring process seamlessly. Providing a solid foundation, Dover has built additional features around it, including tools for sourcing candidates, scheduling interviews, and managing full-cycle recruiting. By automating these tasks, the platform helps startups focus on finding the best talent without getting bogged down in administrative work.
While recruiting talent has always been an important part of growing a successful company, the hiring landscape evolved in the wake of the pandemic. Kolysh highlighted that during the early days of the pandemic, there was a significant surge in hiring, particularly for tech roles. It was that surge that allowed Dover to grow rapidly as startups scrambled to find top talent in a highly competitive market.
However, the market has since shifted. With larger tech companies like Google and Facebook slowing down their hiring, startups now face less competition and can attract a wider pool of candidates. Startups can now post a job and receive a substantial number of applicants, making it easier to find quality candidates without the intense competition that existed previously.
Despite the shift, startups continue to invest in recruiting because each hire is crucial to their success. While they may be reluctant to spend on various services, they understand the importance of investing in a robust recruiting process to ensure they hire the right talent. This is where Dover’s value proposition shines: offering cost-effective, tech-enabled recruiting services that provide high-quality results without the hefty price tag of traditional recruiting agencies.
While job boards like Indeed focus on placing job ads in front of candidates, Dover manages the entire recruiting process. It provides the infrastructure for startups to handle recruiting more efficiently, from creating compelling job postings and sourcing candidates to managing applications and coordinating interviews. By focusing on the end-to-end process, Dover ensures that startups can manage their recruiting efforts more effectively and make better hiring decisions.
One of the key challenges for Dover has been breaking through the noise in a crowded recruiting market. Kolysh acknowledged that many startups are bombarded with generic recruiting pitches that fail to stand out. To counter this, Dover has focused on building a reputation for delivering tangible results. By elevating customer experience and delivering on their promises, they have built a strong base of satisfied clients who are eager to refer others.
However, it would be impossible to discuss Dover, or almost any other topic these days, without looking at the role of AI. Dover has leveraged AI to automate low-level recruiting tasks such as sourcing and scheduling, allowing them to streamline their services and offer them at a lower cost compared to traditional recruiting agencies. Moreover, Kolysh believes that AI will continue to play a significant role in recruiting, helping to further commoditize the software and improve efficiency across the board.
Looking to the future, Dover is focused on growing its applicant tracking system and expanding its reach among startups and small businesses.
