Founder's Guide

Stop guessing. Start scoring.

The A-Player Scorecard is a structured framework that turns subjective hiring decisions into measurable outcomes. Define what great looks like before you start looking.

90%+
candidates on-profile with a scorecard
89%
of bad hires fail on cultural fit, not skills
2x
salary — the cost of a bad hire

The Framework

Three pillars of an effective scorecard

Mission

The purpose and context of the role. Not a job description — a clear statement of why this hire matters to your company’s trajectory.

"Scale revenue from €2M to €10M ARR in 18 months while building the sales organization from scratch."

Outcomes

3–8 measurable results this person needs to deliver. Not tasks — business outcomes that define success in the first 12 months.

"Achieve €8M net new ARR by end of Year 1. Build a team of 12 sales professionals."

Competencies

The specific skills and behaviors required. A mix of technical abilities and cultural traits that predict success in your environment.

"Strategic thinking, team building, data-driven decision making, startup agility."

In Practice

Example: VP of Sales Scorecard

Mission

Scale revenue from €2M to €10M ARR in 18 months while building a sales organization from the ground up.

Key Outcomes

€8M net new ARR

Year 1

12 sales professionals hired

18 months

85%+ forecast accuracy

Ongoing

30% CAC reduction

Year 1

Competencies

Enterprise SalesTeam BuildingData-DrivenStartup AgilityInternational MarketsProduct-Led Growth

Watch Out

Three mistakes that sabotage your scorecard

The Superman Syndrome

Listing 15 must-have competencies guarantees you’ll never find anyone. Prioritize 3–4 non-negotiables. Everything else is a bonus.

Ignoring Cultural Fit

89% of new hire failures stem from poor cultural fit, not skill gaps. Define 4–6 behavioral traits that predict success in your specific environment.

Vague Outcomes

“Grow the business” isn’t an outcome. Every metric should have a number, a timeline, and a clear owner. If you can’t measure it, you can’t hire for it.

Your Scorecard + Umamy

Turn your scorecard into a recruiting engine

Give us your scorecard in a 30-minute calibration call. Our AI scores every candidate against your criteria in real time. Humans review the shortlist before anything reaches you. 90%+ of candidates genuinely match.

Dynamic scoring against your criteria
Human-curated shortlist
90%+ on-profile guarantee

Build your scorecard with us

One 30-minute call. We build your scorecard, start sourcing, and deliver qualified candidates in ~48 hours.

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