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4 Tips for Hiring the Right People for Your Small Business

No matter the size of your business, hiring the right people is important, plain and simple. People are at the heart of any organization and the right hire can play a vital role in growing your business.

In today’s competitive job market, finding the perfect fit may seem impossible. 72.8 percent of employers have a difficult time finding skilled candidates, and 45 percent are concerned about finding employees with the necessary talents. As a small business owner, recruiting may seem especially daunting amid all the other things you do to keep your business running.

With nearly three in four employers affected by a bad hire, you simply don’t have time nor resources to waste on a half-baked recruitment strategy. Whether you’re looking to hire your first employee or add to your growing team, read on for four tips to snag your dream candidate.

1. Get Specific About Your Business’s Needs

Growing your team is an exciting step in developing your business. New employees can offer a fresh perspective, new skillsets, and bring renewed passion to your business venture. But before you start adding to your team, it’s important to understand exactly what your business needs and what the ideal candidate looks like.

For small businesses, understanding what matters most about a candidate—like if they should be a cultural fit or offer a specific skill set—will help you narrow down your search pool. Employees in small businesses wear a lot of hats, so be honest with candidates if you’re looking to hire someone to perform multiple roles. If you want an accountant who can also handle POS reporting, or a retail manager that’s also great with social media, be upfront about that from the beginning of your search. Determine the most critical tasks that need to be completed and include them in the job description and interview questions. The more specific about responsibilities, required education, experience, knowledge, and skills you can be, the more tailored your applicant pool will be, and the more likely the perfect candidate is to accept an offer.

 2. Invest in Applicant Tracking and Hiring Software

It can be easy to get buried in paperwork and dead-end applications when you’re going through the hiring process. For small businesses, investing in hiring software can help save time and money during the recruitment process.

Don’t waste time manually posting your listing on multiple job boards and social media platforms, with no insight into what is working. Instead, find software that streamlines all your hiring needs, eliminating the guesswork that sometimes comes with finding new staff. An easy applicant tracking system that helps with interview scheduling, video conferencing, and background checks will give you peace of mind that you’re not only zeroing in on top candidates, but also gathering all the necessary documentation.

 3. Ask the Right Interview Questions and Conduct Assessments

If you’ve found a promising candidate, a little prep for the interview will go a long way. During the interview, be clear about what your expectations are—if it isn’t what the candidate is looking for, don’t waste any more time. Both you and the applicant are hoping to find the perfect fit—if it’s not a mutual match, it’s not the right hire.

If you’re hiring for a role that has very specific tasks, it may be beneficial to conduct tests or assessments during the interview. Assessments allow you to see how a candidate interacts with your business environment and allows them to showcase different skillsets they have that aren’t highlighted by their resume or interview responses. Curious if you’re required to compensate candidates during a working interview?
 

4. Continue to Improve Your Hiring Process

As your business continues to evolve, so should your recruiting strategy. Each time you hire an employee, evaluate what worked and what didn’t. Leverage your team as a recruiting tool—employees are three times more likely to be a trusted source of information compared to the employer. Candidates will get a better sense of what your organization is like by interacting with current employees. Continue growing your network of potential hires all the time—not just when you have an open position.

Keep in mind that the hiring process doesn’t end when your new hire arrives on their first day. Proper onboarding and training are just as important as the recruiting process. If you aren’t already, utilize an electronic onboarding platform to help your new hire get all the information they need—like an offer letter, documentation and forms, and payroll information.

Finding, attracting, and hiring top talent is hard—but not impossible. With these tips, you’ll have the resources you need to help your business continue growing, without unnecessary stress. Looking for more HR resources? Learn more.

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