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# How Solo Founder First 5 Hires Teams Use 100Hires

# How Solo Founder First 5 Hires Teams Use 100Hires

This setup is for founders making their first few hires without a recruiter. The goal is to spend less time organizing resumes and more time on high-signal conversations.

## 1. Start with one clean job per role

Create a separate job for each role, even if the company is small. The job holds the description, application form, workflow, hiring team, automations, and AI Scoring criteria for that role.

![Job details editor with AI-assisted rewrite controls](https://100hires.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/04-job-details.png)

Keep the job description specific. Add must-have outcomes, working style, location expectations, salary range if you can share it, and the first 90-day goals. This gives candidates and the AI tools better context.

## 2. Ask only the questions you will actually use

Add application questions for must-have signals: work authorization, location, salary expectations, portfolio, or a short written answer. If a question is a hard requirement, you can use it later with knockout automation.

![Application form builder with custom questions](https://100hires.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/03-application-form.png)

## 3. Use AI Scoring for ranking, not final decisions

Configure 3 to 5 criteria on the job's **AI Scoring** tab. Use criteria that are visible in the candidate data, such as role-relevant experience, domain match, location, written answers, or portfolio evidence. AI Scoring returns numeric scores so you can review the strongest applications first.

![AI score result on a candidate profile](https://100hires.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ai-score-result-breakdown-clean.png)

Use AI Copilot separately when you want a written answer about one candidate, such as "summarize strengths and risks" or "list interview questions based on the resume."

![AI Copilot prompt dropdown in the candidate profile](https://100hires.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/04-ai-copilot-dropdown.png)

## 4. Remove scheduling overhead

Connect your calendar and create self-scheduling links for founder screens. Candidates choose from your available slots, and the interview is created in your calendar.

![Self-scheduling links list for interview booking](https://100hires.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/100hires-outlook-calendar-self-scheduling-hero.png)

## Free trial notes

The free trial is useful for testing the core workflow, but free-trial job posting has verification and applicant limits. Trial jobs require verification before job-board posting, and a verified trial job can receive up to 10 applicants before it moves to draft. If you need higher volume or priority verification, use a paid plan.

## Recommended first-hire workflow

1. Create one job per role.
2. Add a short application form with must-have questions.
3. Set 3 to 5 AI Scoring criteria.
4. Review by AI score, then open the best profiles.
5. Use AI Copilot to summarize evidence and prepare questions.
6. Send candidates a self-scheduling link.
7. Move candidates through stages consistently.