Hiring the Right Employees in Your Small Business

Most small business owners understand that hiring employees is one of their most important functions. A poor hire will drain your time, patience, and bank account (when you finally cut ‘em loose). But a good hire will add measurably to your success. And while any employee can be difficult to manage at times, the key is finding and hiring the right employee from the start.

Clarify the Position and Role

You may need a cashier, or you may need a specialized medical biller. One thing is certain—you are looking for someone to complement your skills and fill a new role. Even if you’ve hired an employee before, clearly describe your vision in a job description that covers key skills, hours, and wages. Based on what you want the employee to do, prepare yourself with interview questions relevant to real-life situations. Provide scenarios or opportunities for the employee to demonstrate their acumen and methodology for problem-solving. And if you can, have others in your organization meet your candidate, especially if the new hire will regularly collaborate with them.

Ready Your Business Location

When a new employee joins your team, it affects several things: current employees, the new employee, your customers, and you. Before the employee starts working for you, review your business location to ensure that it is ready to make the best of a new employee. Just like having guests for dinner, a new employee reminds us that we might need to clean the bathroom and ensure there are enough chairs. Create a comfortable environment and culture for employees to begin their journey in your organization. From communication boards and employee meetings to safety protocols, employees need a solid base to do their job effectively. Every new hire reminds us that our office or work site contributes to a new employee’s success.

Guidance and Training

Sometimes, I’ve hired someone who was a good personal fit but needed training on the actual job function. This can be a risky decision, but it is easier to train a skill than change a personality. But training is always necessary no matter how skilled an employee might be. In your small business, you have already created systems and protocols that work. Based on your new employee’s role, you will train them to work smoothly within your organization. Explain your expectations and model the behavior. Then, watch your new employee complete the same task and guide him appropriately.

Your staff can be an asset to your business, and as owners, we have the most important job of hiring the right ones. By hiring carefully, your employees will contribute to your successful business’s smooth operation.

Author Profile Jon Forknell is the Vice President and General Manager of Atlas Business Solutions, Inc., a software marketing company specializing in employee scheduling software, including ScheduleBase employee scheduling software, and other business software solutions. In the past, Jon has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year. For many years, Atlas Business Solutions has been named one of Software Magazine’s Top 500 Software Companies.