HIRING, CONTEXT AND THE CANDIDATE

Good employees are key to your company’s success. The first step in hiring stellar employees is to attract them, similar to how you attract clients. You need to “sell” the potential hire on the benefits of your company, and establish a long-term relationship.

Also evaluate your marketing approach. Do you differentiate your company from your competitors?

Assuming you have been successful in attracting candidates, then you must qualify them for the skills you need. Explain to them what skills you are looking for. Then, evaluate whether they are intellectually and emotionally ready for the job. The interview process is not foolproof, but it is the perfect time to explain your company’s values, policies and evaluation criteria.

Assuming you find potential candidates you feel would benefit the company, you then are ready to make an offer. Making a hiring offer is like an insurance sale. Your proposal should be expressed in terms that are aligned with the candidate’s needs. Your offer should sell your value, not price. That helps to remove compensation as an obstacle.

Once your candidate has signed-on with the company, it’s your job as an employer to make sure they have the proper training to understand their new roles and the company as a whole. Context helps employees understand and buy into the training and your business.

To emphasize contact, be sure to:

• lRecognize its value and make time for it.
• lAllow others to provide it in your training. Learn from their experiences.
• lEncourage an atmosphere where questions are welcomed.
• lLook for well-rounded growth.
• lQuiz employees on their performance; why were thing done that way?
• lProvide continual training.

Hiring new employees can be risky business — after all, your employees are the face of your business. Extra effort put into looking for stellar candidates and training them on the job can make or break your business. So remember to nurture your employees. You are establishing a long-term relationship.

Topics Talent Training Development