If you are a small business owner, then you know that the one thing that is more important than anything else to your success is a great staff. You can have the best location and product in town, but without an excellent team of people to run it for you, it will all go down the drain. It’s not enough just to hire someone to fill a position – you need to find the right person for the job, and that’s not always easy. With that in mind, here is a guide to finding employees for your startup small business.
1. Define the positions that need to be filled.
The first step is to identify what positions you need to fill. This is a very obvious step but you’d be surprised at how many business owners try to wing it and end up hiring people who are not a good fit for their business. Take the time to sit down and make a list of all the positions that you need to fill in your business, no matter how big or small.
2. Figure out what skills and qualities are required for each position.
Once you have a list of the positions that need to be filled, you need to figure out what skills and qualities are required for each one. This step is important because it will help you weed out candidates who are not a good fit for the job. For example, if you are looking for a customer service representative, you will want someone who is friendly, patient, and good at problem-solving. But in general, you want employees with strong conceptual skills, communications skills, and interpersonal skills.
3. Write job descriptions for each position.
After knowing what skills and qualities are required for each position, you need to write a job description that includes all of this information. This will help you attract candidates who are a good fit for the job and it will also help you screen out candidates who are not a good fit. Many small business owners make the mistake of not writing a job description, leading to a lot of unqualified candidates applying for the job.
4. Use the internet to your advantage.
The internet is a great resource for finding employees. There are a number of websites that allow you to post job listings, and you can also search for potential candidates on social media sites like LinkedIn. You can also use the internet to your advantage by conducting background checks on potential candidates. When you are searching for candidates online, make sure to use relevant keywords so that you can find the best possible candidates.
5. Ask for referrals from people you trust.
Another great way to find employees is to ask for referrals from people you trust. This could be family, friends, or even business associates. If you know someone who has a great staff, ask them for referrals. This is a great way to find high-quality employees because you know that they have already been vetted by someone you trust.
6. Screen candidates carefully.
Once you have a list of potential candidates, it’s time to start screening them. This is an important step because you want to make sure that you are hiring the best possible candidates. When screening candidates, make sure to ask them about their qualifications, work experience, and skills. You can use a variety of pre-employment skills and talent tests to help you screen candidates.
7. Conduct interviews.
Interviews are a great way to get to know potential candidates and to see if they would be a good fit for your business. Even when their resume looks good on paper, it’s important to conduct an interview so that you can get a better sense of their personality and how they would fit in with your company culture. You can use a variety of interviewer techniques, but in general, you want to make sure that you are asking open-ended questions and giving the candidate a chance to show what they can offer to your business.
