The Ultimate Guide to Hiring Your Next Employee

Finding talent that benefits your organization at the perfect time that meets salary expectations is rare. Hiring new employees requires cooperation and negotiation between the hiring manager and the potential employee. What if you could streamline the hiring process and make it easier to find candidates with the skills you need? Sharpening your own skills in regard to the open pool of job-seekers is key.

Locate, Interview and Research the Most Qualified Candidate

Overlooking the most qualified candidate for the position is a rookie mistake within the hiring process. Oftentimes, managers think that the most qualified candidate will be out of their salary range, is overqualified for the position or has underlying work ethic issues. Yet, you could be pleasantly surprised by what you find when you interview and hire top talent. Keep in mind that these job-seekers would not have applied if they weren't interested, so give them a shot.

Consider Important External Attributes

Job skills, experience and education are important considerations in hiring new employees. However, personal attributes may reign supreme, depending on the industry your position is in. Your new hire has to have the attitude and personality for the job you will be asking them to perform. For example, a shy, quiet employee would not be a good fit for a front desk receptionist. Just as a person with a forward personality would not be a good fit for a position that required empathy. Analyze the candidates external attributes in relation to the position you are hiring for.

Pay Attention to Personality

When you hastily hire talent, you may quickly discover that the information provided on their resume was not exactly truthful. Someone who stated they were "detail-oriented," but makes numerous mistakes is not what you want to find out after you have spent time and money on the on-boarding and training process. External cues can be helpful in confirming statements made by the applicant. For example, if the applicant states that they keep their workspace tidy and neatly stacks up their interview paperwork, it is likely that they are being honest about their personality and capabilities. Learning to pick up on these cues gives you an advantage.

Feed the Culture

One disgruntled employee can cause tension and strife within an office environment. Carefully analyzing a candidate's personality can save employers time in the long run. Sometimes a prospective employee just doesn't fit or get along with people on a team. In these instances, it is better to cut your losses sooner rather than later. Keep in mind that you are dealing with real people with real feelings, and it is important to treat prospective and current employees with dignity and respect. If something isn't working out, letting someone know sooner rather than later is a good idea.

Correct Job Posting Descriptions

Make sure that the job candidate understands the job description, required duties and employer expectations prior to sealing the deal on a new hire. An employee who didn't understand what was expected of them or thought the job would be different than what it is will not be a productive, happy employee. Be thorough in your job posting and duty descriptions. Give specific job duties, expected results and position requirements up front to save time in the long run. Be sure to ask candidates if they have any questions about the position or the company in the initial interview. Now would be a good time to address any concerns or questions from job-seekers.

Check References

It can be a hassle to make contact with every reference on a candidate's job application, but it could save you from a bad hire, too. Other employers are usually honest about the candidate's prior work experience. If a job-seeker doesn't provide a list of references, be sure to ask. This shows them that you are interested and that you will be doing your due diligence before hiring a new employee.

Finding new talent is a stressful process. Make it easier on yourself by following these steps to hiring the perfect employees for your organization. Make sure you always maintain a professional, courteous attitude, as you are a representative of your company for candidates.