March 13, 2017

Customer acquisition. Marketing strategy development. Inventory management. The tasks a small business owner faces are many. One task many small business owners dread is hiring new employees. From advertising a new job vacancy to reviewing resumes and calling for interviews, the entire process can be mentally exhausting. To save the frustration of hiring headaches, you can prepare yourself for recruitment challenges by honing your hiring skills. If you're a small business owner who wants to become better at overcoming recruiting hurdles, following are five hiring tips you should bear in mind.

Develop a Thorough Job Description

Before you even think about placing a help wanted advertisement or soliciting resumes, it is imperative you create a thorough job description. This isn't a step to be taken lightly or glossed over in an attempt to rush the hiring process. By carefully considering each task a new employee will be required to complete, you get a better understanding of the type of hire you should be looking for. Determine whether an entry-level employee will suffice or whether you will need to recruit someone with experience. The more time you spend on developing a detailed job description, the likelier it is you will hire the right person for the job. This process might seem time consuming, but bear in mind you can use this same job description in the future should the person you hire move onto greater opportunities (in or out of your company).

Understand Skill Requirements

Just as creating a thorough job description is critical for effective hiring, so is understanding the skill requirements for your next hire. Knowing which tasks your new hire will need to complete is only the first step; detailing the necessary skills helps you to determine which candidates are worthy of an interview and which you should pass on. Not only will you be making your hiring process more time efficient, you won't be wasting the time of prospective recruits. Don't assume all candidates will possess basic skills; what you consider to be common knowledge may not be so common to those interested in applying for employment with your business. Be sure to have a trusted advisor outside of your company review your job description and skill requirement list to catch any glaring assumptions you might have made.

Define Rate of Pay

Once you have developed a clear job description and skill requirement list, it is time to define a rate of pay for new employee. While many business owners will want to opt for the lowest remuneration possible, this is not necessarily in your best interest. Offering a low rate of pay can stop talented individuals from applying to your advertisement. It is much smarter to offer a rate of pay equal to the skill level your new employee will require than to offer compensation below fair market value. The amount you will spend in training costs or fixing the errors of a poorly skilled worker is much costlier than if you had just offered appropriate compensation in the first place.

Consider Remote Workers

Another essential step in hiring new employees for your business is to consider whether you need an on-site employee or if work can be completed by a remote worker. A growing number of companies are opting for a distributed workforce; determine whether you might be able to offer flexible work options to your new hire. Not every job needs to be completed on site. You gain access to an incredible talent pool when you consider remote workers.

Hone Your Interview Skills

Before you place your job advertisement, it is imperative you hone your interview skills. You need to be able to judge everything from a recruit's analytical skills to their technical knowledge and teamwork skills. Just because a potential hire's resume looks intriguing, that doesn't mean they will live up to their CV when you meet them in person. The more confident you are in your interview skills, the likelier it is you will make an excellent hiring decision.

Hiring new employees can be one of the toughest challenges you face as a business owner. If you fail to adequately prepare for this crucial task, your company can end up becoming a revolving door for employees. Not only is this costly for your company, it is incredibly frustrating for existing staff members. Pay attention to these five hiring tips for small business owners and your chances of building a top-notch team greatly increase.