Whether you run a pet store or a clothing company, there will come a time when it will be near impossible to do everything alone – no matter how reluctant you may be to hand over the reins to others.
After all, as your customer base grows, so will the number of things you have to do in a day – be that responding to emails, managing stock inventories, or financial planning. Simply put, there comes a point when hiring your first employees will be necessary.
While this can be daunting, there are a lot of benefits associated with this kind of business expansion, as your team can help propel your brand toward success.
With that in mind, here are some top tips for hiring your first employees!
Know how to attract the top talent.
Many business owners view their business as their “baby”, which means they’ll only want to give positions of responsibility to those they can trust, i.e., top talent within the industry. As such, it’s important that you’re able to catch the attention of the best possible candidates each time you post a job listing. To achieve this goal, you should:
- Write accurate and detailed job descriptions
- Offer an attractive salary and benefits
- Develop an employee well-being scheme
- Invest in employee development
Seek out potential over perfection.
If you spent many years climbing the career ladder yourself, you’ll likely know just how nerve-wracking the job hunt can be. This is often because employers set sky-high expectations, like asking for 10+ years of experience for a role that doesn’t really need it. As a new employer, it’s worth remembering that skills can be developed, especially the so-called “soft skills” that often make the biggest difference in a team.
Instead of focusing on perfection, try looking for potential. Tools like a skills matrix template can help with this, giving you a simple way to visualize which soft skills—like communication, problem-solving, and adaptability—each candidate brings to the table. This can make it easier to spot someone who, even if they’re a bit green, could grow into exactly the kind of team member you’re hoping to find.
In short, you should look out for potential over perfection!
Allow them to work remotely.
If you run a home-based business or shop, allowing your employees to work from home negates the need for you to rent out a physical premise for your business. This can help you to keep your costs down until a time when an expansion feels right. Furthermore, it can also make you a more attractive employer, given that 63% of employees would prefer to work remotely.
Invest in employee management tools.
Hiring employees means that you’re now in a managerial position, which is a big undertaking within itself. However, there are many different forms of employee management tools you can use to make your day-to-day life easier. For example, using automation software to generate work timesheets allows you to achieve accurate payroll, process invoices quickly, and manage employee workloads more effectively.
Remember that you have to impress in the interview, too.
Believe it or not, interviews are a two-way street. After all, as you work to determine whether or not the candidate is right for your team, they’re working to figure out if they’d like to work with you. For this reason, you should ensure that you present yourself in the best possible light during the interview process. Be polite and friendly, and open to answering any questions they may have.
Ask strategic questions.
Before kickstarting the interview process, you must know exactly what you want from your team. For example, are you looking for creative thinkers or someone who is able to take instruction?
Having a clear picture of the ideal candidate in mind means that you can draft excellent interview questions that allow you to determine whether or not a candidate is up to scratch. For example, if you need someone who is able to think on their feet, you can ask questions about their approach to challenges or ability to solve problems quickly.
Encourage candidates to take their time when answering questions. This will allow them to give a more thoughtful response.
Understand the legalities.
Before you kick start the hiring process, you should also ensure you understand the legalities associated with this kind of business expansion. For example, you will have to take into account a wide variety of regulations during the candidate selection process, such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. This ensures that you’re giving each candidate a fair chance at success.
Beyond this, you’ll also have to ensure you file the relevant taxes or submit the relevant employment forms. Otherwise, you could be putting yourself (and your business) at risk.
