How to Make Sure You Hire the Right People
When small business owners begin to grow their businesses, some of the most important decisions they must make include hiring employees.
Whether it is the receptionist who will answer the phone or the salespeople who have the power to make or break your business, careful thought must be put into who you decide to bring on board.
Where to Start?
Many new business owners don’t even know where to begin their search for qualified people. The first thought for many is the local newspaper.
For many this is a good place to start, but there are some negatives to this approach. First, it can be expensive. At a time in your business when every dime counts, spending several hundred dollars on recruiting ads might not be feasible.
Also, local print ads limit your pool of candidates to those who live in your area.
An alternative is national online sources such as Monster or CareerBuilder. These services are not cheap, but you have a much larger base of potential hires. One way to find help that is becoming more and more popular is the use of Craig’s List.
You can post ads, or you can browse through resumes that have been posted by job seekers, and the services are free.
If you have several positions to fill you may consider taking part in a job fair at a local college. While there is typically some cost involved, this option allows you to have face time with potential candidates.
The Hiring Process
Once you have identified potential candidates, be sure to take the time to call their prior employers and/or references. Also, depending on the type of position, you may consider doing a background check.
It’s easy to be blown away by a resume, but sometimes what isn’t on the paper is more important. During the interview, keep the following questions in mind.
- Why did they leave their last job? How many jobs have they had in the last few years?
- Do they dress professionally?
- Are they personable and warm?
- Did they seem prepared for the interview?
- Does it seem they have it together, or do they seem scattered?
It’s much easier to hire the right people to begin with than it is to have to let someone go and then start the search all over again.
Even though it will take a bigger investment of your time – and perhaps money – upfront, it will be WELL worth it in the end.
