Your business is up and running and you’re even starting to sign up clients. You have your office space and supplies, set up Internet Faxing, handed out marketing flyers, but something’s still missing. With all of the work that you’re about to have, you realize it’s time to hire an employee or two to help with the workload. But how do you decide who the best person is to hire when you’ve never done it before? Here are the traits you’ll want to look for in an employee for your small business.
Determine Job Qualifications
First, determine what qualifications you need in your employee, such as phone etiquette, filing, typing, and bookkeeping. Write up a want ad based on these needs and post it in your local paper. You can also post flyers around your neighborhood.
Set up a Good Interview
Ask prospective employees questions related to the skills you need them to perform. You may even want to test them on these skills with some practice runs. Ask questions about their backgrounds and personal lives. You want to make sure the person you hire is dependent and trustworthy. Get to know the interviewees by simply having a conversation with them. Ask them to provide references.
Run a Background Check
Contact references and ask pertinent questions about interviewees’ character and job skills. Go through an agency that can run a background check on them.
Hold a Second Interview
Once you’ve selected a few good prospects, do a second interview with them and ask more questions. Get to know them a little better before making your final decision.
Now that you’ve seen and heard everything you can about your prospective employees, hire the one, or ones, you feel most comfortable with.