Partner Article

WhatsApp and what might have been….

Everyone loves a happy ending, especially when half way through the story the heroes suffered rejection.

Which makes Jan Koum and Brian Acton’s career stories particularly meaningful.

For anyone living under a rock, Koum and Acton are the founders of WhatsApp which famously sold to Facebook for $19 billion.

What is less publicised is the fact that back in 2007 the pair applied for jobs at Facebook and were rejected.

Of course, there is no saying that had they have been hired they still would have developed the now famous app in Facebook’s time and therefore saved the company $19 billion.

Regardless, this is a classic demonstration of failing to spot outstanding talent. Someone at Facebook will be kicking themselves.

So what is the key lesson to be drawn from a corporate recruitment perspective? Talent spotting goes beyond mere cultural fit and skill sets, especially when it comes to hiring innovators who are likely to have a chequered employment history (both Acton and Koum quit Yahoo and took a year long trip around South America before applying to Facebook).

Too many recruiting executives play safe - ticking the boxes and making sure that they cover the proverbial! Of course it all depends on best fit, yet companies always need to keep their ears and eyes open for opportunities to hire those famous ‘purple squirrels’ - especially when they come tapping on your door!

Article written by David Dumeresque of Tyzack Partners

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tyzack Partners .