If your business is doing well and you can no longer do it all yourself, you need to hire staff. That's when the real work begins.
Hiring the right staff is what small businesses say is the one most difficult task – and one which can so often lead to problems. Potential staff might look good on paper and in person, and interview well, but you'll only know whether you've made the right decision when they begin to do the work.
Here are a few tips to help you get the right staff.
Do the checks. Too many companies in New Zealand don't check to see whether qualifications are genuine, or follow up with previous employers. The experience of those employers could be critical to your decisions. Three key questions to ask have to be:
Why did the employee leave?
Did you have any specific or general problems with their work, their behaviour or their attitude?
And perhaps most crucial, would you hire them again?
Identify the role and aim at getting the person with the right attitude (first and foremost) and skills for the job. Don't be side tracked by a good candidate who's not suited to the role you need to be filled.
Consider experience, but also learning ability. Your company will always operate differently than someone else’s, so a staff member's ability to learn how you do things is important. They are also more likely to use their initiative to suggest improvements in work practices.
Include someone you trust in your interview team. If you can afford to hire a professional recruiter, you should do so. There are self-employed individuals, if you can find them, who would be happy to receive a fee.
As a business owner, your focus is going to be different than theirs. You will ultimately make the decision, but another person's perspective can often provide insights you might never think of.
Whatever your business, if you're expanding it means a new staff member is going to be part of a team. The big companies always look for people who are able to work in a team. They also look for good written communication skills and an ability to solve problems. Whether you're hiring waiting staff for a cafe or an IT specialist, these qualities will matter.