A crucial part of your business is to hire the right employees. Your employees are a reflection of your business. Furthermore, there is less turnover when you get it right the first time. There are many different steps that go into the hiring process. From job posting to onboarding, you want everything to go smoothly.
Finding the right candidate starts with having the right job posting. Clearly state the type of services you provide and specify that you are seeking an applicant that has knowledge and experience in these areas. Your job posting should also include the major tasks and responsibilities associated with this position. Understanding your company will help understand how to find the right employee. It is also important to know your work culture. If you are a more laid-back company, be sure to find candidates who are in sync with your work environment. Credentials don’t always result in a good fit if the employee’s work habits don’t match those of the company. Some companies have found it useful to include a Q and A on your website that clearly highlights key information about the company and job responsibilities. Using Applicant tracking software (ATS) is useful to weed out applicants that aren’t a good match based on their application and resume. Another useful tool to finding the right employee is to expand your search beyond job postings. Utilize your network and let your contacts know that you are interested in hiring a new employee and ask if they know anyone who would be a good candidate. Sometimes, word-of-mouth is effective in finding potential employees.
Once you’ve found your top candidates, hold a short, preliminary phone interview. Ask simple questions to get to know them. This is a great chance to get a feeling for their soft skills. Next, select your top choices to move on for a final round of interviews. These are best done in person or by video chat. During the interview, take note of their coachability, emotional intelligence, temperament, motivation, and passion about the job/company. It’s also important to see how your potential new employee will get along with other co-workers. To get a better sense of this, take the candidate on a tour of your company and introduce them to several employees. See how they interact and respond to gauge their interpersonal skills in the office environment. It also demonstrates their passion and curiosity about the job.
Finally, when relevant, it may be useful to ask applicants to send in samples of their work or have them demonstrate certain skills relevant to the job. This helps to see them in action and to determine what kind of skills and work ethic they would bring to your company. Be sure to take note of the most qualified candidate with the most positive attitude. A skilled employee with a negative attitude won’t be helpful. In addition, it is important to run a background check and call any references before making a final decision. If your top candidate passes the background check and has great references, extend an offer. These tips will help to find the right employees for your business.