Hiring the Best Person for the Job: Expanding Your Small Business Staff



As a small business owner, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the responsibilities of the job once it's off the ground and running. Success can be bittersweet for entrepreneurs--yes, it means that you are generating an ample amount of revenue. However, it also means that you now have more of a responsibility to satisfy your clients' demands by providing top quality products and services.

Soon you may learn that you need to hire a few people to help you keep up with daily business operations. While you might feel inclined to take on the additional responsibility yourself, doing so can quickly burn you out. Success will give you more profit to work with, meaning you'll have the opportunity to add a couple of people to your payroll to help.

Don't sell yourself short by trying to take on everything on your own. Attempting to do so can hinder the growth and success of your company. Chances are, you won't be able to meet all of your client demands if you're constantly stressed out. This reduces the quality of your small business and can hurt customer retention.

Once you're ready to hire staff members to help out, there are a few ways you can bring in people who are right for the job. First, it's important to make sure that your classified ad is detailed. The job description should cover everything you want from an employee and outline all of the responsibilities they will have while working with you.

Salary can be discussed at a later date, but you may want to include information such as whether it is a part time or a full time position, or if the job is temporary or permanent. Sometimes, people go to the classifieds to look for temporary work, which can pose a problem if you're looking to hire someone permanently through your ad.

During an economic downturn, you may find yourself with a bunch of applications from people who are qualified for the job. This is because more individuals are now out of work and looking to get back on a viable career path. As an entrepreneur, this can make it difficult for you to make a decision when it comes to hiring and developing a successful staff.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you're faced with a flood of applications. First, Businessweek reminds entrepreneurs that there is no need to skimp on quality. Because you have a wide variety of people to choose from, take this opportunity to be picky. Select candidates who have a proven track record of accomplishments in your industry.

Reuters also says that an easy way to narrow down the process is to know what you need prior to reviewing applications. Chances are, you'll receive resumes from several candidates who all have similar credentials. However, reading between the lines may help you hone in on skills that could potentially propel your small business. Think about what your business needs at the present time when going through your set of applications.

"Value things that have to do with communications skills, work ethic and a liking to be around other people," Polly White, the author of "Let Go to GROW," told Reuters. "Those are kinds of things are not something you're going to teach to somebody else. It's something that’s inherent in the person by the time they get to you."

Next, don't skimp on the detective work once you have a few candidates in mind for your open positions. Although many people interview well and have stellar resumes, not everyone is 100 percent truthful about their past experiences. In the end, this can turn into a headache for you as a business owner if you hire one of these individuals.

Finally, keep in mind that the interview process is not meant to be short and sweet. It may take dozens of interviews over the course of weeks for you to find the perfect person for the job. However, taking your time can be the key to maintaining employee retention in the future.

If you hire individuals who are not suited for the job, chances are you'll have to eventually let them go or they will leave on their own to find a more fulfilling position. In the end, this means that you'll be spending more time in the future, attempting to fill these gaps in your staff.

There is no sure-fire method when hiring that can guarantee that you'll find the perfect person every time for the job. However, taking the time to plan accordingly from the moment you put out your ad can spare you hassle later down the line.