Q3 is when momentum matters. Whether you’re working toward key product milestones, preparing for a new funding round, or just trying to keep up with growth, the quality and speed of your hiring can make or break your success.

At Hardboot, we work with scaleups that need to move fast but can’t afford to make the wrong hires. Here are three key hiring strategies we’re advising our clients to consider heading into Q3.

1. Build Flexibility into Your Hiring Plan

If you’re only hiring for permanent roles, you’re limiting your options. Contract and contract-to-perm placements give you speed, adaptability, and the ability to bring in specialized skill sets when you need them most.

Why it matters:

  • Faster time to productivity
  • Less long-term risk
  • Easier to scale up or down with project needs

2. Hire for Impact, Not Titles

It’s easy to fall into the trap of hiring based on traditional role structures. But the best scaleups think differently: they hire to solve problems, not fill desks.

Tip: Start with what outcomes you need in the next 90 days. Then build roles (or engagements) around that. This approach helps you avoid bloated teams and misaligned hires.

Hardboot Insight: We often help clients reshape job descriptions around deliverables — not just qualifications. This helps them attract sharper candidates and hire more intentionally.

3. Partner Early, Not Urgently

Waiting until you need someone “yesterday” is a recipe for rushed decisions and hiring mistakes. The most successful scaleups start working with a recruitment partner before they hit a hiring crunch.

Why?

  • Better planning = stronger candidate pipelines
  • Easier access to hard-to-find talent
  • Smoother onboarding and team integration

Pro tip: Even if you’re not ready to hire this week, start the conversation. It gives you a head start.

Need to Scale in Q3? Let’s Talk.

Hardboot specializes in helping fast-growing companies find top-tier talent across:

  • Permanent roles
  • Contract engagements
  • Contract-to-perm placements

Whether you need to fill one critical gap or build out an entire product team, we’re here to help you do it faster — and smarter.

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Author: Laura Lirette