“Hire character. Train skill” Peter Schutz
We hear a lot of complaints about how hard it is to find good employees. Sometimes business owners give up and take whomever comes through the door, hoping that with the right training, they’ll be a good new addition. Today we’re going to talk about how you can find the right people for any position.
Keep in mind that having great employees is not a luxury, it is essential. Those that work for you are your representatives in the eyes of the public. If they mess up, your company has messed up. If they are rude and turn off customers, it is your company that bears the brunt of that ill will. The majority of customers make no distinction between people you hire and your business as a whole.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, and likely frightened many business owners in the process, we want to tell you good news. This bias works both ways, so when you have exceptional employees your business looks even better in the eyes of you customers and clients. This means hiring better impacts just about every aspect of your company.
First, let’s talk about some common mistakes to avoid when looking at potential employees. There is no such thing as the perfect employee that can do everything you need, right from the start. Every candidate will have strengths and weaknesses. Your goal is to find somebody that has a great base of understanding for your job and the potential to know your company as well as you do.
Another mistake people make is to look first to friends and family. While working with friend and family can be great, it can also be problematic. Ask yourself if you’d hire for them for the position if you didn’t have a relationship with them? If you’re unsure, then it’s probably not a good idea.
After you determine they have a good bases of skills that you need, even if they are lacking some, you should start looking at their past experience. Call for references, being more concerned with their competency and dedication more than anything. If somebody is dedicated to excellence you can train them to do just about anything and know they’ll take pride in the process. This is what you want!
Here are some things to look for when screening a job candidate:
- Do they have a history of staying at jobs or jumping from company to company?
- Do they have 70% to 80% of the skills you’re needing?
- Have they demonstrated competency in previous positions, regardless of the type of job?
- Would most of their previous employees rehire them?
When you interview them, take some time and get a feel for them. Are they dressed professionally? Do they seem confident? The ideal candidate will come ready to talk business and even though they may be nervous, they should seem confident when they are talking about their skills and experience. You should also ask what their overall goals are, is this a stepping stone job or are they in it for the long haul? Both are okay, as long as you’re on the same page!
Hiring well takes a bit of time but is well worth it in the end. Remember, everybody that comes into contact with them will see them as representatives of your company, no matter how minor their position may be! So do you homework on each candidate, take your time during the interview and follow your instinct.