As a new small business, you may be in the process of setting everything up, including hiring the professionals you need for your brand to succeed. For many new brands, this is one of the trickiest aspects of starting a business. It can be challenging to find the right people who you’ll be able to rely on for years to come, but it’s definitely important. Here are a few tips to help you get it right when hiring your team:
Perform background checks
Something that isn’t always first on an employer’s mind is running a background check. However, it can be important when you want to be sure that you’re putting together a trustworthy team. While this may mean an expense on your part, it’s going to save you money when you have the peace of mind that you’re hiring people with integrity.
Plus, there are cheap background checks available so that you can easily check up on your potential hires before leaping into full-time employment. Your peace of mind is worth the wait!
Don’t hire in a hurry
If there’s another thing to slow down on when putting together a team, it’s jumping the gun with hiring a candidate. There are some great professionals out there with seemingly amazing resumes, but at the end of the day, not everything will be as it seems. With this in mind, when a potentially amazing candidate comes your way, don’t offer them the job on the spot. Keep them interested, but take your time checking in to make sure that they’re everything that they say they are.
Ask for references
Something you can do when you like a candidate but don’t want to rush hiring them is to ask for references at the first interview. Reaching out to their previous employers can give you a timely and helpful view of the candidate so that you can make a more informed decision. A bit quicker than some background checks, talking to their references can allow you to make a gut-based decision, but before you trust just anyone’s word, also take a look at the people they’re using as references. If they’re a business owner who has a solid reputation, take them at their word and consider hiring a professional who seems like the right fit for your brand.
Require aptitude tests
If you want to be confident that you’re hiring the best people for the specific job you need help with, you’ll want to make sure they have the exact skills needed for it. This isn’t always easy to do. A resume can showcase the kinds of jobs they have held, but it may not showcase how great they are at them. With aptitude tests, you can gauge the ability that they’ll bring to the position, and this can provide you with some peace of mind as you consider bringing them on.
Look for character
While someone may offer great skills and expertise, if they’re not also bringing integrity and character to the table, you may want to keep looking. If you’re building a team of professionals, you need people who can offer more than just talent. Work ethic, EQ, and attitude also matter on the job. While they don’t have to have the sunniest disposition, a good attitude can go a long way when it comes to workplace environments.
The people you hire impact company culture in more ways than one, so make sure you’re hiring with this in mind. This is when getting a first-hand account from a reference can tell you things that a top-notch resume cannot.
In Conclusion
As you set out to hire your team for your small business, one rule of thumb is not to rush the hiring process. Take your time putting together your team. You’ll be glad that you did when it’s time to get to work!
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