Assembling a talented, hardworking team is no small task, and business owners are hard-pressed to find loyal employees that can handle the duties and responsibilities of their respective company’s open position. If you’re in need of new team members, be sure to follow these essential employment do’s—and avoid the employment don’ts.
Do’s
Keep these list of do’s in mind as you begin your hiring processes.
- Create a Detailed Job Listing
If you want to place the right person in an open position, be sure that your job listing hits all the marks and explains the expectations and qualifications required for the role. If you don’t know these facets like the back of your hand, sit down with the current team and determine what a new hire should be able to complete. Whether you’re recruiting a social media specialist or a data analyst, understanding exactly what you need will help you create a job listing that attracts the ideal candidate. A great job description can help your listing stand out from the rest, so make sure it hits all the following marks:
- Write a specific, concise job title that avoids internal lingo
- Start with an attention-grabbing summary
- Include job location
- Outline core responsibilities
- Detail work environment and company culture
- Detailed lists of soft and hard skills required for the position
Make sure you’re posting your job listing on the right channels—relying on Craigslist isn’t a great strategy. Paying a bit upfront for more exposure on a site like Indeed.com can help you find and place great candidates faster and more efficiently.
- Run a Thorough Background Check
Detailed background checks are one of the best ways to ensure a great hire. The right employment screening services can help you verify that the candidate is presenting their background in a truthful manner—ensuring they actually have the skills, credentials, and experience they need to perform well in your company’s open position. Your background check processes should verify former employment, call references, and verify the applicant’s identity. It’s also important to check a candidate’s criminal history in order to keep current employees, customers, and clients safe. If the position you need to fill requires the individual to work with money or sensitive financial info, be sure to run a credit history check as well.
- Use Referrals
Before spending money on job listings, consider your own network. Former colleagues, industry contacts, and your own employees can prove to be a valuable resource for talent acquisition. Put out the call for the position you’re hiring for, and find out if anyone you know can offer a lead on a high-quality candidate. If your business’s finances allow, you might consider incorporating an employee referral program; if an employee refers a great candidate that ends up joining the team, reward the employee with compensation.
Don’ts
There’s also plenty of things you should avoid when hiring a new employee. Watch out for the following:
- Hiring Only When You’re in Dire Need
Don’t wait until the last possible second to begin your search for a much needed employee. Start your search as soon as you notice a need; the more time you have, the more thorough you can be.
- Failing to Have the Entire Team Interview the Applicant
It’d be quick and easy to screen applicants yourself; unfortunately, this practice doesn’t always lend itself to a great hire. Your new employee will become just a piece of the overall puzzle of your business, and it’s important to ensure they fit in seamlessly with the rest of the team. Screen applicants yourself through phone interviews; if you’re still interested in the candidate, invite them in for an interview with the entire team.
- Failing to Create an Onboarding Process
Once you’ve extended an offer and your new hire has a start date, be sure they’re ready to hit the ground running by solidifying a detailed onboarding strategy. Sitting an employee down at a computer and leaving them to learn the ins and outs of their position on their own isn’t going to set them up for success. Have training techniques ready, explain the expectations of the position from day one, and help them get quickly acclimated to your daily processes.
Hiring new members of the team can be challenging, but following these do’s and avoiding these don’ts will have you well-positioned for a great hire.