Do you have a small business? Are you looking to hire your first employee? Congratulations! You're taking an important step in growing your business. But where do you start? How do you find the best candidates? And what should you do once you've hired them? In this blog post, we'll provide tips and tricks for hiring employees for your small business. We'll also discuss digital onboarding steps that will make the process smoother for both you and your new employee.
Define what you need
Start by thinking about the position you're trying to fill. What are the specific duties and responsibilities of the job? Once you have a good idea of what the job entails, you can start thinking about what specific skills and experience are required.
For example, if you're looking for someone to answer phones, you'll need someone with strong customer service skills. If you're looking for someone to work in the warehouse, you'll need someone with experience in shipping and receiving.
Think about the type of person who would be a good fit for the position, and write down as many qualities as possible. The more specific you can be, the easier it will be to find the right candidate.
Some things to consider might include:
Strong communication skills
Good organizational skills
Experience in a similar role
Knowledge of specific software or systems
Ability to work independently
Team player
Once you have a good list of qualities, start thinking about what you're willing to compromise on. For example, if you need someone with strong communication skills but the only candidates you've found don't have that skill, maybe you could consider candidates who are willing to learn. The most important thing is to be clear about what you need. This will help make the hiring process easier for everyone involved.
Create a job description - be specific about the duties and responsibilities of the position
How to write the job description
Be specific about the duties and responsibilities of the position
Don't use jargon or acronyms that only people in your industry will understand - be clear and concise
Write in first person (I, we) rather than third person (he/she) so it's easier for candidates to relate to you as an employer. Make sure everything sounds professional and not too casual.
Use keywords related to your business/industry so search engines can find your job listing easily when people are looking for work online! For example, if you're hiring someone for a role at a restaurant, make sure all relevant words appear in the description like "line cook" "kitchen staff" etc., because these terms might be used when people are searching for jobs.
List the required skills and experience, as well as any preferred qualifications
If you're willing to consider candidates who don't have all of the required skills, list them as "nice to have" rather than "required"
Use terms like "full time," "part-time," or "temporary" to let potential candidates know what type of position you're hiring for
State the location of the job, whether it's in a specific city or town, and how many hours/week the position is available
End with a brief overview of your company and what makes it a great place to work
Here's an example of what a job description might look like:
I. Position Summary
The position of Accounts Receivable Clerk requires an individual with excellent organization and communication skills, as well as experience in bookkeeping or accounting. The ideal candidate will be able to work independently and have strong attention to detail. This is a full-time, permanent position that offers flexible hours and a great benefits package. Our company is a leading provider of XXXXX services, and we are looking for someone who is excited to grow with us.
II. Duties & Responsibilities
Review customer invoices for accuracy and completeness
Process payments and update customer accounts accordingly
Assist with month-end reconciliations
III. Required Skills & Experience
Minimum of two years experience in bookkeeping or accounting
Strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel
IV. Preferred Qualifications
Experience with XXXXX software
Bilingual (Spanish/English) is a plus
V. Company Overview
Our company is a leading provider of XXXX services, and we are looking for someone who is excited to grow with us. We offer our employees a great benefits package and the opportunity to work with some of the best people in the industry. If you are interested in joining our team, please submit your resume and cover letter today!
What are the specific duties and responsibilities of the job opening you're trying to fill
How much experience is necessary for the ideal candidate to have had in order to be successful in this role?
What kind of hours will this position require, and what is the expected work schedule (weekdays only, weekends only, etc.)?
Is telecommuting an option, or is it required that the candidate come into the office every day?
Do you have a budget for this position? If so, how much is it?
What kind of benefits will the employee be entitled to (health insurance, vacation time, etc.)?
What kind of training will the employee receive once they are hired?
How much paid time off can the employee expect to be granted each year (sick days, vacation days, etc.)?
Is it important that this person has a driver's license or their own transportation? If so, what is the reason for needing these things in order to do this job properly?
Do you have any specific requirements for education or certification in order to work in this position (college degree required, nursing license needed)?
How soon does your company need someone new on board with these skills and abilities before business operations suffer significantly from not having them around any more than necessary without negatively impacting productivity during busy times when everyone needs extra help getting through their workloads without underperforming their jobs or creating more problems than solutions due to lack of experience trying something new?
What kind of expectation do you have for this person to perform at their highest level within six months after being hired? One year?
Outline what the day-to-day tasks of this position would be
Indicate what kind of personality or skillset you're looking for in a candidate
Let potential applicants know what the company culture is like
Advertise the position - use online job boards, social media, or your own website to get the word out
Social media is a great way to get the word out about your job opening
Online job boards are another great way to find qualified candidates. (for example Indeed Career Builder & Monster)
Use keywords in your job posting that will attract the best candidates
Make sure your website is up-to-date and looks professional
Screen candidates carefully and do reference checks before making a final decision
Offer a competitive salary and benefits package
Interview candidates - ask questions that will help you determine if they are a good fit for your company
If you are interviewing a lot of candidates, consider using an interview score sheet.
Questions to ask:
Find out if they have the skills and experience to do the job well. Ask them about their previous positions and what kind of training or education they’ve had.
Ask them why they want to work for your company - this will tell you if they really want the position or just any job! If possible give examples so that it is easier for them to understand: “Doing what I love every day would make my life complete." (or something like that)
Ask how long ago did they apply? Was it recently? Have other companies contacted them since then? It may be difficult finding someone who has been unemployed long-term but not impossible.
Ask about their hobbies or interests outside of work - this will tell you if they have a life outside the office! (or something like that)
Ask them why do they want to work for your company? This will help determine if it’s just any job at all, or one with meaning and purpose behind it. Ask about other positions within your field so you can see what kind of experience they would bring into the workplace: "What is important to me as an employer?" "What type of training did I receive while working there?", etcetera...
See how well they communicate both verbally in person as well online through email/text messages by using social media platforms such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype for Business or Google Talk etcetera... Ask about their hobbies outside of work: "I enjoy playing basketball on weekends with friends." (or something like that)
Ask questions related to the job description and what they think it would be like working there. For example: What do you see yourself doing at this company in five years? Or ten years from now? Do they have any questions about me or my experience as well before we end our interview process today?" And so forth! Also, ask them if they’re interested in having another conversation later after reviewing your resume again; it's always good when someone says yes because then there’s hope that maybe this person will actually follow up sometime soon after.
Make a decision and offer the job
Be prepared to negotiate salary and benefits. Onboard your new employee - provide them with information about your company and how they can best contribute to its success.
Now that you've found the perfect candidate, it's time to make an offer. Salary and benefits are often open for negotiation, so be prepared to discuss these items with the potential employee. Once an agreement is reached, it's time to onboard your new employee. This process should include providing them with information about your company and how they can best contribute to its success. Congratulations - you've just hired a new member of your team!
Hiring employees can be a daunting task, but following these tips will help make the process go more smoothly. By taking the time to compare candidates and make a well-informed decision, you're setting yourself up for success in bringing on the right person for the job. Good luck!
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