Hiring employees is one of your most challenges tasks when you have just started a business. There is no chance of your startup finding any real success until you’ve put together a team to work for it. Here are the steps to take when it’s time to hire your first employees.
1. Post adverts on relevant sites
First of all, you need to get the message out there that you have some vacancies to fill. Most companies only post adverts online these days.
You could post adverts in relevant magazines or local newspapers if you want to. But there are so many job vacancy websites out there that make it cheaper and easier to just use them instead. Make sure the adverts outline the specification clearly.
2. Sift through the responses
The kind of role you’re advertising will dictate how many responses you get. But there is a chance that you will have a lot of applications to sift through. This is especially true if you’re hiring graduated or are advertising entry level jobs.
So, you will have to dedicate some time to reading all the applications carefully. And then you will have to decide which of them meet the standard you’re looking for and which don’t.
3. Hold interviews with the most promising
Once you have read all the applications and analysed the CVs, you should draw up a shortlist. The names that end up on this shortlist will be the ones that show the most promise either through their CV or cover letter.
It’s then time to hold interviews with the people on your shortlist. Arrange a time that suits each of the candidates. Then prepare questions that are relevant. During the interview, make the candidate feel at ease and give them time to talk.
4. Give the best candidates a trial run
Just because a candidate has an impressive CV and spoke well at the interview, that doesn’t mean they will do well on the job. That’s why it’s always a good idea to give the best candidates a brief trial run at the job before you offer it to them. This will allow them to show you what practical skills they have and how they would handle the real world pressures the job throws at them.
5. Carry out checks
You should then carry out some basic checks on the people that you are interested in hiring. First of all, get in contact with the references that they gave to you. This will give you an insight into their personality from someone who knows them well.
You might also want to conduct a criminal background check. This is important if they are going to be working with vulnerable people. But it can also offer you peace of mind whatever the job is.
6. Offer the right person the job
When you have done all of the above, you will, hopefully, be left with one purpose who can fill each role you advertised for. If you are still not sure which is the best candidate, you could consider holding a second round of interviews.
This would allow you to assess them a second time. But if you don’t need to do that, then all that’s left to do is offer the successful candidates the job.
