InspHire is an HR and recruitment company that’s been kickin’ it in the market for almost 6 years now. We had a chance to chat with the big boss and founder, Chen Peer. She gave us the deets on how the company got started, cracked us up with some funny stories, and even let us in on what she’s got planned for the future.
What inspired you to start InspHire?
In the summer of 2017, I finished my work at a recruitment company where I had been working for some years and was thinking about what to do next. I could find a new job in a new tech start-up or develop my career in an international company, but I chose to set up my own business.
I realized that there was a gap in the market that needed to be filled. I’ve been in the HR and Internet industries for a while, and I saw a need for flexible services in this ever-changing industry. In the past, I noticed that the companies I worked for only offered one type of service, which left our clients disappointed. I knew that if I started my own business, I would create services based on the real needs of the market and I felt inspired.
When I started the company, I didn’t have a perfect plan in place or do a lot of planning – for the first 5 months the company existed even without a name and logo. I just went with the flow, created a business plan as I went, secured some funds, and gradually built a team that offered services tailored to our customers’ specific needs.
Can you describe the first few months of the company and any memorable moments from that time?
The first year of running the company was tough. I had to go the extra mile to build up our name, get new customers, and make everything run smoothly. We focused on giving our clients top-notch service and making sure people knew we were trustworthy.
My first employees were my ex-colleagues whom I trusted. And it was only after two years that I hired someone outside of my network. After nearly two years of hard work, we hit the jackpot by landing our first big client, Plarium, for placement services. We also scored a sweet deal for our HR-as-a-Service services with a digital media and publishing company. This gave us a huge boost and led to working with other big-name companies like yellowHEAD, Similarweb, and Playtika. It was insane – we closed two deals in one day and suddenly had to grow our team fast to keep up with everything.
In our first year, we operated remotely. However, by the following summer in 2018, we secured our first office space in Haifa. Over the next two years, our growth was rapid, and we soon acquired a second office location. As many of our clients operate in the central part of the country, we recognized the necessity of opening an office closer to this region. Consequently, we launched an office in Tel Aviv in 2021.
What have been some of the biggest challenges InspHire has faced?
One of the biggest challenges we face at work is keeping up with the latest trends and regulations related to employment, labor, and benefits. It can be a real headache to stay on top of everything, especially since we also operate in multiple countries outside of Israel. That means we have to be on the lookout for different rules and regulations that apply to each location.
Another huge challenge we face is attracting and retaining the best talent out there. You know what they say, “good help is hard to find!” And that’s especially true in our industry – the internet business is super competitive, and there’s a shortage of skilled workers. So, it’s essential for us to work with our clients on offering competitive salaries, benefits, and work-life balance to make sure their employees stick around.
Were there any tough cases in your work? How did you handle them?
Of course, there are always unexpected surprises that come up in our line of work. Sometimes, they can even be funny in hindsight. For example, we once hired someone to work on a recruiter-as-a-service project for one of our clients. We spent weeks interviewing candidates, and everything was all set for the employee to start. But, at the last minute, the client had to cancel the whole project! This happened during a time when there were a lot of layoffs happening, so we couldn’t offer the employee another job right away. We were all pretty bummed, but we managed to handle the situation like pros. We were honest and upfront with the employee, and she understood the situation even though we knew it would be tough for her to find work in the current market. But you know what’s crazy? Six months later, we ended up hiring her for the same project after all! It just goes to show that you never know what might happen in this business, but we’re always ready to adapt and learn from any situation that comes our way.
How would you describe InspHire’s culture, and are there any quirky traditions or inside jokes that have developed over time?
The culture in our company is characterized by openness, collaboration, and inclusivity. We believe in an environment where everyone is encouraged to contribute their ideas and suggestions, regardless of their position.
One of our favorite things to do is hold company-wide all-day events once a month. These events are a great way to build teamwork and encourage creativity among our employees. We all look forward to them and spend days preparing presentations or fun activities. Plus, they help foster a sense of community even when we’re not working side by side every day.
Creating a positive and engaging workplace culture takes effort and commitment from everyone in the company. That’s why we make sure to keep communication lines open and prioritize the well-being of our team. We believe that every team member is valuable, and we’re dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone feels engaged, appreciated, and motivated to succeed.
Have there been any particularly bizarre or unexpected pivots the company has made in its history?
At InspHire, we’ve never been an average services company, and adapting to our clients’ needs is just part of how we do things. We started with staffing services and gradually expanded to offer more specialized services such as executive search, HR-as-a-Service, and outsourcing services. Now, we’ve added even more to the mix, including employer branding, HR Ops, and relocation and compensation and benefits services.
Who knows what sort of unexpected twists and turns the future will bring? Pivoting can be a necessary and exciting move if we want to stay ahead of the game and stay up-to-date with changing market conditions. Who knows, maybe we’ll even come up with some cutting-edge tech solutions down the line. The possibilities are endless!
Have there been any epic fails or embarrassing moments the company has experienced, and how did you recover from them?
So we tried out a new HR service for one of our clients that we haven’t done before, but it didn’t go as planned. It was supposed to help out with a specific function in their HR department, but they weren’t happy with it after a while.
We decided to have a meeting with them to figure out what was going on. They gave us some feedback, which was useful, but they still seemed unsure about whether they wanted to keep using the service.
To make things right, we took a few steps. First, we apologized to them and admitted that the service didn’t meet their expectations. Second, we promised to make things right and do whatever we could to fix the situation. Third, we came up with a better service based on their feedback. And finally, we worked with them to make sure the new service met their needs.
When you mess up like this, it’s all about how you react and what you do to fix it. We believe in acknowledging our mistakes, taking action to fix things, communicating with everyone involved, and learning from our mistakes. It’s all part of the process of growing and improving as a company.
Have there been any particularly strange or funny clients/candidates interactions or feedback the company has received?
Wow, you wouldn’t believe how many times we get medical check results or family photos instead of job applications from candidates. And sometimes our clients have some pretty weird requests for the type of skills they want in a candidate, even if it doesn’t seem to make sense. But we always try to handle these situations with a mix of professionalism and empathy, while also bringing some humor to the table when appropriate.
Are there any particularly funny office pranks or team-building activities that the company has engaged in over time?
At InspHire, we’re all about having fun and keeping things positive, which means we love to do team-building activities and the occasional office prank. Our favorite prank involves leaving a silly note or a funny meme on someone’s desk for them to find in the morning, it’s always good for a laugh and gets everyone in a good mood.
As for team-building activities, we’ve tried a variety of things like going to the spa, doing water sports, cooking classes, and even having karaoke nights. It’s a great way to get to know your colleagues better and have a good time outside of work.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from the company’s history?
We’ve learned a valuable lesson at InspHire about the importance of diversity and inclusivity. We believe that everyone should feel welcome and valued in the workplace, no matter their background or perspective. Not only does this create a positive environment, but it can also lead to more innovative ideas and better business results. Our company boasts a varied team with members from different walks of life. Our employees come from various backgrounds and possess a range of interests – we have mothers, olim hadashim, students, sports enthusiasts, and even sleep consultants. Each person contributes a unique perspective and expertise to the team. Moreover, every individual is passionate and dedicated to their profession. I am proud to have such a unique and talented group of individuals working together under one roof. While it might not be hilarious, this lesson has certainly been a valuable one for our company.
What are your future plans for InspHire?
InspHire is undergoing a transformative process to evolve into a comprehensive 360 HR company, continuously expanding our array of services to better meet the needs of our clients. In the past year, we successfully introduced employer branding and training services to our roster of offerings, shifting our focus away from recruitment.
Looking forward, I have plans to delve into the development of technology-based solutions for HR. We all recognize the vast potential of technologies such as AI to optimize daily tasks and automate various processes. It is my earnest hope that we will soon be able to provide such innovative solutions to our valued clients.
InspHire is a 360° HR company taking a unique approach of specializing in building and improving HR processes and recruiting for global internet companies. Our approach and industry experience equipped us with deep knowledge and understanding in the world you work in. We cover every aspect of HR services that your company needs, from direct hire placements to trainings, employer branding, and welfare programs.
