How to Hire the Perfect Employee in 5 Easy Steps

As the owner of your own business, it’s your job to hire new employees to ensure its growth and sustainability in the future. But with so many applicants, how do you decide who to choose? How do you know that person will be the right fit? The following guide offers five key steps to help you find the perfect employee for your business and avoid making costly hiring mistakes.

Step 1: Create a Job Description

Every business has a different need and every employee has his or her own specialties. This is why it’s important to spend some time on a job description before you start interviewing potential candidates. What are you looking for in this position? What skills are most important? What’s the work environment like? To make things easier, we’ve created a template for you with all of these questions already answered! Check it out here.

Step 2: Advertise Your Position

Now that you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to get your job out there. If you have an online presence, your first place to advertise is on your website. Be sure that when posting your job advertisement, you include a detailed description of the position and all requirements. Post the link on social media sites, like Facebook and LinkedIn. Let your friends know about it so that they can share it with their networks too!

 Step 3: Screen Applicants

Once you have a list of potential employees, it’s time to narrow it down. One way to do this is by asking for a resume and cover letter from each candidate. It’s important to give them some guidelines about what they should include on their resumes or cover letters so that you can compare apples-to-apples. For example, make sure each applicant includes their contact information and employment history, if they’re still employed elsewhere. Then, review their qualifications and experience side-by-side with your job description to find a match. If there’s no match after reviewing the top three candidates, consider looking for more applicants.

Step 4: Select and Interview Candidates

Once you’ve narrowed down your list, conduct phone interviews with your top candidates. When you’re on the phone with them, ask questions that will reveal their personality and work ethic. For instance: Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond for a customer or co-worker. Listen to how they answer and don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions if need be.

Step 5: Make an Offer, Negotiate Compensation, and Sign Off on the Offer

If you have a job offer, make sure that it’s a good fit for both parties. Make sure you and the candidate are on the same page with compensation, benefits, and any other arrangements that need to be made. When everything is agreed upon, sign off on the offer.