Elon Musk Takes Hands-On Approach By Personally Approving Every New Tesla Hire — Even Contractors

Elon Musk wants to personally approve every new hire at Tesla Inc., according to a recent Electrek report. In an email obtained by the publication, the CEO of the American electric vehicle brand informed employees about his intention to gain a better understanding of the company’s hiring process by personally granting approvals via email.

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The email reportedly included a line that stated, “No one can join Tesla, even as a contractor, until you receive my email approval.” This move indicates Musk’s hands-on approach to ensuring that he has direct oversight of the hiring decisions at the company.

But given Tesla’s recent surge in hiring across the United States, it remains unclear how feasible it will be for Musk to implement his plan effectively or for how long it will be sustained. The car manufacturer’s online careers page advertises over 70 positions specifically related to the Cybertruck, and its upcoming lithium refinery near Corpus Christi, Texas, is expected to employ approximately 165 people full time along with 250 construction workers. Taking into account the company’s multiple departments and global facilities, Tesla hires an average of around 30,000 people per year, according to Electrek.

In the summer of 2022, Tesla reportedly paused its hiring efforts and reduced its staff by approximately 10% after Musk expressed concerns about the economy. But just a few months later, the company resumed its hiring activities, with job listings experiencing a 50% increase from June to October.

Now, in an effort to streamline costs amid the price cuts across its entire lineup and the ongoing development of the Cybertruck, Tesla is striving to optimize its financial resources. Musk’s hands-on approach to approving new hires aligns with the company’s strategy, although it raises questions about the brand’s ability to sustain a steady hiring trajectory as it continues to expand.

As Tesla navigates these challenges, the company’s focus on cost reduction serves as a crucial measure to offset the impact of significant price reductions implemented across its entire lineup in 2023.

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