What factors are causing longer times-to-hire in quantum?

Time-to-hire refers to the number of days between a candidate applying (or being approached) and accepting an offer. It’s a crucial metric in fast-moving industries like quantum, where the best talent is often off the market in under three weeks.
 
But across the quantum sector we’re seeing time-to-hire stretch well beyond 30 to 45 days and in some cases, over 60. That kind of delay can cost companies top talent, project momentum and even funding opportunities.
 
So what’s slowing things down?
 
Caution from previous bad hires
Many quantum companies are cautious because they’ve been burned before. When you’re hiring for niche roles with limited available talent it’s easy to compromise, but that often leads to bad hires. Now, some teams are swinging the other way – being overly selective, hesitant or reliant on idealised profiles. That adds time, especially when multiple stakeholders are involved.
 
Complex and lengthy HR processes
Start-ups and spin-outs often inherit complex university or corporate HR systems which aren’t built for speed. Even when the team knows who they want – delays with offer approvals, benchmarking or contract creation can add weeks. The tech moves fast but the admin doesn’t.
 
Uncertainty about the actual hiring need
In many cases, quantum teams aren’t entirely sure what they need until they start talking to candidates. Job specs evolve mid-process, or the role changes based on who applies. It’s understandable — quantum is a new field and job definitions aren’t always straightforward — but this uncertainty creates drift and indecision, which stretches the process.
 
If your hiring is taking longer than expected and you’re losing candidates along the way, we can help. IntaPeople partners with quantum companies to refine hiring goals and speed up the process without compromising on quality.