Read time: 5 min
Farzad Henareh, the CCO at Studytube, shares his experience working with Bluebird, a recruitment agency that has been instrumental in scaling Studytube’s growth in the SaaS industry.
“It took us a long time to find a good recruitment partner. Bluebird has played a key role in our scale-up the past years.”
Farzad Henareh, the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Studytube, shares his experience working with Bluebird, a recruitment agency that has been instrumental in scaling Studytube’s growth in the SaaS industry. He shares how partnering with Bluebird helped Studytube overcome significant recruitment challenges to achieve their ambitious goals.
Farzad found Bluebird through his active participation in various SaaS executive groups. He recalls, “I got acquainted with Machiel at that time. There was a click instantly because in the phase where Studytube was at, we were looking to really make sure that we have the right profile of professionals in each department in our commercial organisation.” This initial connection led to a deeper relationship, where Bluebird’s vision and philosophy resonated with Farzad: “I was instantly sold to the vision.”
Studytube faced significant challenges in recruiting the right talent. Farzad highlights the core issue: “I felt there was not a good understanding of what the right profile would be in our SDR teams, in our Account Executive teams, in certain leadership positions… In essence, there was a lack of experience in commercial SaaS.”
This lack of alignment with previous recruitment partners made it clear that Studytube needed a new approach. Farzad adds, “You are really looking for advice there, right? From every angle; the way you should assess a candidate, the way you should run the process, what kind of salary ranges you should think of for certain profiles.”
The impact of these recruitment challenges was felt across multiple areas. “The impact is on several fronts. The first one is obviously just generally productivity,” Farzad explains. The right hires could ramp up quickly and become productive, but poor hiring decisions had the opposite effect.
He also emphasises the importance of cultural fit, stating, “When the cultural fit is good and strong, obviously that impacts longevity.” This cultural alignment, facilitated by Bluebird, has allowed Studytube to develop and retain top talent, contributing to a “better culture, a better vibe, a motivational set-up.”
Read more about a good company culture in our blog The Impact of Sales Culture on Your SaaS Company’s Growth.
Before partnering with Bluebird, Studytube explored various solutions, including outsourcing SDR functions and working with different recruiters. However, as Farzad notes, “If you have a good ‘niche’ type of recruitment business, that is focused on a different area, in your case commercial SaaS…that’s far more valuable than just having an internal recruiter.”
This realisation, coupled with Bluebird’s deep understanding of the SaaS space, solidified their partnership. “It’s because everyone at Bluebird really understands the SaaS space…and really knows the world of SaaS quite well,” Farzad says, praising Bluebird’s expertise.
Read more about choosing the right recruitment partner in our blog The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best SaaS Sales Recruitment Agency.
The beginning of the engagement with Bluebird was marked by a personal and professional connection. Farzad recalls, “To be honest, it has always felt like you were a part of the team. I don’t see the difference between an internal recruiter or working with you guys.” This seamless integration into Studytube’s operations, combined with Bluebird’s structured and professional approach, made the partnership highly effective.
Reflecting on what might have happened if Studytube had not partnered with Bluebird, Farzad admits, “I think it would have had a major impact on our growth plans.” He underscores the importance of fit hires in the early phases of a company’s growth, explaining, “We needed to lift up our game. That would have had an impact on our results, not only bottom line but also top line.” Moreover, the cultural impact could not be overstated: “We’ve only added X-factors to our team. So the impact would have been on our results but also on our culture.”
Farzad’s experience working with Bluebird has been overwhelmingly positive. “I felt understood. Not only me, but also my team members,” he says. He appreciates the personal approach, noting, “I’ve experienced it being very personal in approach… So personal, good experience, but very structured and organised.”
The benefits of using Bluebird’s recruitment services have been significant for Studytube. Farzad highlights the cultural impact as a key advantage: “The main benefit is definitely the cultural impact you guys are able to make.” He also notes how Bluebird has supported Studytube’s international expansion: “You’ve been very important to help us scale… and helped us build our teams in International markets.”
Farzad lists the three things he loves most about Bluebird: “I love the people… I love your passion… I love the ambition of you as an organisation.” He values the like-mindedness and shared passion within the Bluebird team, which has contributed to the strong partnership between the two companies.
To those considering working with Bluebird, Farzad offers this advice: “Definitely give it a try and just experience it for yourself… Bluebird has been able to do that particularly well because of the experience and the passion they have.” He concludes by saying, “It has helped us a lot and it has been a key part of the scale-up that we’ve gone through.”
Are you looking to enhance your recruitment process and find top talent for your team? Reach out to Bluebird today to discover how our specialised approach can help you achieve your hiring goals.
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