how to hire employees
DESCRIPTION
Entrepreneurs know that hiring great employees is the key to success, but few invest in the hiring process. As a result, small business owners waste tons of time on hiring the wrong people or hiring the right people the wrong way. Investing in the hiring process is a worthwhile use of your time. It may be the single most important action you take for your business.TRANSCRIPT
How to Hire Employees
Virginia Ginsburg, MBA
The Problem
You know that hiring great people is the key to success, but you feel you don’t have time to invest in the hiring process.
The Reality
You will waste tons of time on hiring the wrong people or hiring the right people the wrong way.
Investing in the hiring process is a worthwhile use of your time.
It may be the single most important action you take for your business.
How to HireStep 1: Research
1. Figure out what you need someone to do – what “holes” need filling?
2. Figure out an appropriate title for the role.3. Search online for job descriptions that cover
what you’re looking for.4. Search online for salary information pertinent
to the role for which you’re hiring.
How to HireStep 2: Job Description
1. Write a job description. 2. Run your job description through at least one
outside advisor who knows something about hiring people.
How to HireStep 3: Reach Out
1. Send the job description to everyone you know, including your employees, advisors, and members of your network.
2. Post the job in the appropriate online resource such as Craigslist, LinkedIn, etc.
How to HireStep 4: Sort
1. You should get tons of job applications. Sort them into 3 piles:
a) Definitelyb) Maybec) No Way
How to HireStep 5: Email Interviews
1. Hopefully, you have at least 10 people in the “Yes” pile. If you need to, pull a few from the “Maybe” pile. Try to get at least 6 candidates, and no more than 12 whom you want to evaluate further.
2. Develop an email questionnaire containing 4-6 questions that will help you whittle your top candidates down further. Give them a response deadline.
3. Expect about 50% of candidates to not even respond to your email, which tells you something important.
How to HireStep 6: Phone Interviews
1. You should have 2-5 candidates that rise to the top after the email interviews.
2. Schedule phone interviews with them. Try to make them all on the same day or spread over no more than 2 days to keep the candidates fresh in your mind.
3. Create a list of questions, and make sure you ask all candidates the same questions. Write down notes as you conduct the interviews.
How to HireStep 7: References
1. Take the top phone candidates and request references.
2. Create a basic list of 2-3 questions to ask each reference.
3. Speak on the phone with at least 2 references who have directly worked with your candidates. These calls should take less than 10 minutes.
4. Listen for the energy behind their answers. Does the reference seem to genuinely like and respect the candidate?
How to HireStep 8: In-Person Interviews
1. You should have 1-3 candidates that rise to the top after the phone interviews.
2. Schedule in-person interviews with them. Try to make them all on the same day or spread over no more than 2 days to keep the candidates fresh in your mind.
3. Keep this interview more casual. You have done the heavy lifting on their qualifications. Now you want to see which candidate will make the best culture fit.
How to HireStep 9: Make an Offer
1. Hopefully one of your candidates seems like a great fit. Make an offer, and negotiate to make the hire a win-win for both of you.
CONGRATULATIONS!
You just made a solid hire!
