Hello Benjamin! Can you introduce yourself for our readers?
Certainly! I'm Benjamin Benjamin Gardien and Abby is an adventure I launched with my three best friends. We're all computer science graduates from CESI. During our studies, we did some freelancing to support our projects and travels. Following this, we decided to merge our activities and create Abbya company specialized in digital services. We operate mainly in the freelance sector in France.
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What do you offer at Abby's?
At Abby, we aim to make life easier for the self-employed by offering a range of services. We automate their administration, including tax returns and VAT calculations. Invoicing is our main product, but we also offer project management and time tracking tools. In addition to our free packages, we offer premium options. We also have an online community and organize events to encourage self-help among freelancers.
Have you established partnerships with other companies or accounting firms?
Indeed, we have begun discussions with a major accounting firm. We have also established partnerships with banks, insurance companies and domiciliation firms to enhance our offering. Our aim is to work with chartered accountants to offer a complete solution to the self-employed and fill gaps in the market.
If you had to describe your corporate culture in a few words?
At Abby, we value benevolence, audacity and performance. In fact, our name "Abby" comes from Ability, giving back the power and ability to independent entrepreneurs. That's really what we want to convey to our customers and our team. We want to help them be successful, bold and caring, while offering them a pleasant and stimulating working environment.
If you had to convince someone to join Abby, what would you say in a few sentences?
There's so much to do at Abby! We're at the heart of the revolution in the world of work and independence, which is really exciting. As a major player in France, we have big ambitions and we value our employees' freedom of action.
What strategies are you implementing to attract new talent?
The key to our attractiveness lies primarily in our reputation. The feedback we receive is overwhelmingly positive, with testimonials from individuals who have a positive image of us and appreciate our approach. This is a true reflection of our corporate culture. What's more, we offer great flexibility to our staff, particularly in terms of remote working. At Abby, everyone is free to choose where they work, whether in our office or remotely. We have also started to offer fully remote positions for high-level technical and marketing roles.
What does a "Made in Abby" recruitment process look like?
Abby's recruitment process varies depending on the position. For junior positions, we start with an initial 10-15 minute phone call to assess whether the candidate fits our culture. This is followed by an initial interview, usually with one of the co-founders. We also make sure to involve the employees who will be working directly with the new recruit, as they are in the best position to assess compatibility. A technical test can also be organized before the second interview, which is conducted by Abby's CEO. Finally, we organize an escape game with the whole team to build relationships before the new employee's official arrival. We also set up a mentoring system where one person is designated to facilitate the integration of the newcomer and support him/her during his/her first three weeks.
Does Abby emphasize other aspects when integrating new employees?
That's right! At Abby, we believe that integration is an essential aspect. We start by organizing an initial face-to-face meeting to provide the new employee with all the necessary tools and allow him or her to meet the whole team. Following this, we organize a series of sessions to enable new employees to discover all the company's departments. They are encouraged to take part in various activities, such as writing articles for the blog, creating videos for TikTok, observing the development process, and even making calls with our users. Our aim is to give them a complete experience of all aspects of our business. We then offer a progressive learning program, adapted to each position. For example, for developers, we set up phases of exploration of our application with specific tests. In short, we ensure that each employee feels well integrated, has a good understanding of our company and its objectives, and can progress at his or her own pace.
Do you have a tip for keeping your talent engaged?
As a young company, we're still learning how to retain talent. However, we have identified several key factors that contribute to our attractiveness. Firstly, we offer great flexibility and opportunities for rapid progression. As soon as they arrive, we give our new recruits significant responsibilities and encourage them to structure their own departments. We also involve our staff in the recruitment process, so that they feel part of the team's growth. As far as benefits are concerned, we have introduced BSPCEs for all our employees, and we facilitate salary and benefits management with tools such as PayFit, Alan and Swile. These initiatives are much appreciated by our team. Although we still have progress to make, we strive to create an attractive and motivating working environment for our teams.
Could you tell us which positions you'd like to highlight in this article and which ones you're constantly looking for candidates for?
Of course, we're always on the lookout for new talent, especially in the technology field. The positions we want to focus on are those of developers. However, we are also actively seeking profiles in the marketing sector.
What kind of developers are you looking for?
At present, we have filled the position of senior backend developer, but we are still looking for a senior frontend developer. Subsequently, we plan to create a position for a mid-level developer towards the end of the year.
What skills are you looking for in marketing positions?
We're looking for individuals with solid experience in community management, copywriting, social network management and project management. It's important for us to find candidates who have already succeeded in creating and animating communities.
Can we look forward to future recruitment at your company?
You bet! In line with our growth, we plan to create new positions, mainly in development, next year. We also welcome talented interns to join our team.
Last question: why should we NOT join you?
If you're someone who doesn't enjoy rapid change and the pressure associated with sustained growth, you may be reluctant to join our company. We operate in a very dynamic environment, with a large user base and constant demands. This can sometimes generate pressure to deliver on our commitments. However, if you're comfortable with this kind of challenge, we offer a flat corporate culture and encourage open communication between all team members.
A final word?
We're very passionate about our project and love giving back to the community. If you're looking for a stimulating environment where you can work on exciting projects and develop your skills, Abby could be the place for you. Join us on this adventure and let's build something great together!
Many thanks, Benjamin!
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