In order to run a successful business, you need to have the right team. Finding the right team is not always easy, as you need to find, hire and train the right employees.
Once you do find that great team, though, you’ll notice that production and morale and your company increase, and this can only lead to success. If you want to hire the right team, you need to use these team-building tips.
1. Place your job openings in the right places.
Every company knows that the Internet is a great place to find interested employees, but sticking to general job boards such as Monster could actually diminish your efforts. Instead of placing your open position in a place where anyone and everyone will look, try placing your job on a niche job board instead. For example, if you are looking to fill a tech role, such as a computer programmer, then place your position on a site like Dice. If you are looking for someone with a law background, opt to place your position on Law Jobs.
By putting your open position in front of a niche market, you’ll be more likely to receive applications from experienced individuals who can actually fill that role instead of a multitude of applications from people who can’t.
2. Look for someone who is interested to learn.
During an interview, applicants are going to tell you all about their accomplishments and what they can bring to the table, but the last thing you need is to hire someone who is set in their ways. While you do want to choose someone with experience, you also want to choose someone who is willing to learn something new. You want them to be open to your processes and doing things the way your company does them. If the applicant does not seem interested in learning a new skill, then they’re not the right person for the job.
3. Pay attention to personality.
Unfortunately too many employers focus solely on an applicant’s skill and expertise instead of their personality, and this can cause problems. Sure a candidate may be extremely experienced and bring their knowledge to the table, but if their personality will not bode well with your other employees, it’s not going to do your company any good. You want your employees to work well together as a team, and if someone’s personality is going to corrupt that team, then you don’t want to hire them.
4. Give candidates a task.
Sure someone may look great on paper, and they may impress you with their interview skills, but that doesn’t mean they’ll actually hack it in the workplace. Before making your hiring decision, give all your candidates a task to complete. For example, if you’re hiring a proofreader, give them a proofreading test. If you’re hiring a salesperson, ask them to pitch you a product or idea. By giving them a task, you’ll be able to see how they work and how well they do, and you can use this information to determine the right candidate for your company.
5. Teach the right skills.
When you train your employees, it’s important that you teach them the necessary skills they will need for their position. For example, if you hire a graphic designer, only teach them the skills they will need to know. Don’t worry about teaching them how to answer the phone or how to perform a sales pitch. Keeping your employees focused on their own responsibilities will allow them to improve more quickly and help your business find success.
6. Improve your own hiring skills.
In order for you to find, hire and train the right employees for your business, you need to improve your hiring skills. You can’t interview people the same way for every position, and you can’t expect to find the right candidates by doing the same processes. Instead, learn how to be a better interviewer, how to improve your training techniques, and simply how to be a better boss, and you will be able to hire and retain great employees.
About the Author:
Meyling Lau is a partner at SEOMap.com and has lead enterprise scale SEO programs. Formerly, Mey led a variety of grassroots marketing projects for Hotels.com.
