Running your own business is no small feat, and you know better than anyone just how many big and little steps are required to get you where you want to be.
Your business is your baby, and ensuring its growth and future success remains at the forefront of your list of priorities.
From deciding on management processes to handling business expenses, there’s plenty to do on any given day as a hard-working business owner.
One of the most important facets of running a business is selecting a team of like-minded people to launch your business forward.
Hiring the right employee may seem simple, but it often proves to be one of the more difficult parts of the business growth process.
Ultimately the people working for you serve as the backbone of your company, and the driving force behind your future success.
It becomes your responsibility to find candidates who hold the same values, work ethic, and morals as you do and believe in your cause all the same.
As you begin your interview process, make sure you follow these tips to hire the perfect employee every time.
Tips for Hiring The Right Employee
1. Post listings on reputable job boards
If you expect top-tier prospective talent to take you seriously, you need to make sure your job listings are being posted on reputable websites.
Ultimately, you want to make sure that your business is reflected in the best, and most professional light possible, so while posting on Craigslist may open up your pool of candidates, you may not necessarily encounter the most qualified of people.
2. Pre-interview candidates
With a growing pile of applications, all that’s left to do is find the perfect one.
Pre-screening candidates via phone call or video-chat is a great way to get a better feel for the person behind the resume and learn more about their experience and interest in the position.
Thanks to the growing availability of online resources ranging from identity background checks and credit reports for employment purposes, there are plenty of valuable tools on the web that can give you even more insight into the person behind the name.
3. Strengthen your interview process
You’ve narrowed your pool of applicants down to a promising few—now it’s time to interview.
By taking the time to nail down your interview process, you can make sure you’re able to gather the best understanding of each candidate in an hour or less.
Start by asking the right questions. Try using these insightful questions when hiring the right employee:
- “What are your biggest strengths?”
- “What new skills would you bring to our team?”
- “Why should we hire you?”
- “How do you deal with adversity?”
- “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
4. Get serious about background checks
Even after asking all the right questions and trusting your gut on a candidate, there’s always a chance that you wind up hiring someone lousy.
Give yourself an added layer of protection for your small business and your sanity by implementing some form of pre-employment background check.
Background checks can reveal a number of important things about applicants that you wouldn’t otherwise find out from a quick glance at their resume. Opt for a background check that includes:
- Identity verification
- Fraud alerts
- Criminal history
- Employment history
5. Hire an HR professional
While it’s true that no one understands your business and processes quite like you do, you may benefit from having an extra helping hand during the process of hiring the right employee.
Human resources professionals are specifically trained to sift through candidates and pick the most promising out of the batch.
These skilled experts know all of the legal do’s and don’ts of the work world, so they can also assist in ensuring everything you do throughout the hiring process meets a shining legal standard.
6. Consider referral incentives
If you already have a small team of employees working for you, putting a referral incentive in place may be exactly what you need to get more talent through the door.
Typically, hard-working employees know other qualified professionals from previous jobs that they may be able to assuage into applying for your open position.
Scouting comes in a number of different forms, and a referral program is one of the most tried and true.
So why not encourage them to scout out the best of the best with some referral incentives? Whether it’s a $500 visa card or some extra PTO, giving your employees reason to bring more to the table should come with an attractive reward.
Did we miss anything? How do you align your process of hiring the right employee for undeniable success?