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How many times have you heard someone say they want to hire someone with an “entrepreneurial” mindset?
Then at the same time have a laundry list of items they want someone to have deep experience with? Or very specific industry, product or service needs?
“Entrepreneurial” is one of those hiring terms where the actual meaning doesn’t fit the practical buzzword application.
Actual meaning: someone who built a business from scratch. Which involves wearing a ton of hats. Solving new problems. Taking on a broad scope of responsibilities.
This person would have accumulated such breadth that it doesn’t fit squarely into the typical hiring profile at a firm with established structure. Example: when a company needs to hire their 10th salesperson, the person with a mix of sales, strategy, content, operations, and rev ops looks “unfocused.”
Buzzword meaning: Vibes. They worked at a few cool places that grew and seem kinda cool…
There’s two opposing takeaways here:
1. If you don’t actually want an entrepreneur, stop saying you do.
2. If you do want an entrepreneur, ditch the box checking. Focus on learning aptitude, intelligence, humility, creativity.
Equally important: why someone who can do a bit of everything well should want to join your firm in the first place. Someone who is actually an entrepreneur isn’t a joiner to begin with, unless you give them a really good reason.
Tldr I really hate that word in hiring. Happy Friday.
Partner at Hirewell. #3 Ranked Sarcastic Commenter on LinkedIn.
Repeat after me: do not talk politics at work. Or on LinkedIn.
Or in job interviews. Or on first dates. Or at Thanksgiving dinner.
Unfortunately for those of us in the business world, 2025 ruined it. There’s just no way around the fact that tariffs are the issue driving the business climate right now. Every client, candidate, and partner is asking about it—or struggling because of it.
So maybe, just maybe, talking policy isn’t just okay—it’s necessary. Dare I say, productive.
So get ready for a little nuance from Jeff Smith and James Hornick in The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 107, “Talk Policy, Not Politics”
Episode 107