Hiring for the Long(er)haul

Hiring new employees is a costly and timely venture, one that should be approached seriously and methodically. How do you know if you have found the right person for the job?

1. What Position are You Hiring For?

Make a detailed list of duties that are to be performed by your future employee. Keep this list private. When advertising for a job or approaching a potential candidate regarding the position try not to give out too much detail. Often, people cater their resumes and experience to mirror what you are looking for and this can cause confusion or delusion later on, when the said candidate is nothing like they said they were on paper.

2. Weeding Them Out.

When you make the job placement advertisement more general, you are (more than likely) going to be bombarded by resumes. More work, but also a chance to find a highly qualified and well fitted candidate. By being brief in your job description you will have empowered your potential hire to reveal more about their job history and experience. Set up interviews with the individuals that have work experience which most interests you and that you feel would excel within your company.

3. He said, She said.

The interview. Prior to meeting with a potential employee review your list of job requirements that you are looking to have filled and how you would like to see this position carried out. Did your last employee get fired for showing up late all the time, did they quit after two months on the job or did they find a company that they were a better corporate fit for? It is important to allow the individual to sell themselves as they actually are, without influence from you or the position being offered. The best way to do this is to ask well-rounded questions, regarding work ethic, attitude, previous jobs and so forth, again while revealing very little from your standpoint. When you have uncovered all that needs uncovering, then you may reveal the position in its totality and see if the applicant still displays interest. Assuming they do, perfect.

4. We Have a Winner!

You have found a qualified, motivated, long(er)haul individual, yay! Now what? Treat this individual well and be there, even momentarily during their initial training process. You should find that this person is an excellent hire and fit for the job opening within your company.

It is common for people to switch jobs frequently, but by strategizing and spending more time during your pre hire process you can hire the right person, the first time. Happy hiring!