The people you choose to hire for your workforce can make or break your business. And filling in the gaps in your staff sometimes requires a steep learning curve. With that said, your employees are essential to running your business, especially if you are a small company running on tight margins. Hiring the right people requires a very careful strategy to ensure that you’re making prudent and logical decisions. If you don’t give the hiring process proper consideration, you might end up with employees who are unproductive, unqualified, or poor cultural fits that doom company morale.

Below, we’ll dive into some tips and tricks you can use to find the perfect candidate and hire an amazing employee who will help you take your business to new, greater heights.

Conduct a thorough screening

Before you take on a new employee, it’s critical they undergo proper screening. You don’t want just anyone to work at your company and handle sensitive information. Make sure you screen all employees to verify their experience and identity.

It’s important to note that you don’t have to screen every single candidate that you interview, just the ones that you intend to actually hire and bring onto your team. And remember, it’s critical that you get their written consent before you conduct a background check.

If the information found on the screening test matches up to the candidate’s reported education and background, you can have peace-of-mind that you’re bringing on a good employee.

Lay out the requirements and expectations

A good job description is important if you want to fill an open role. If you make the job description too vague, it can invite way too many applicants. But creating too narrow of a job description can mean that not enough applicants apply. It’s important to find a happy medium so you get a good mix of qualified applicants. Here’s a few key elements a job description should have:

• Overview of company
• Overview of job responsibilities
• Sample of daily tasks
• Education requirements
• Experience requirements
• Job skills required
• Preferred skills
• Special directions for applying like samples of work, cover letter, or resume

It’s also a good idea to provide a salary range for the position so job candidates aren’t wasting their time with positions that don’t match their desired compensation. It’s also a good idea to mention perks and benefits like retirement funds, paid time off, remote work options, company culture, and anything else relevant to the job.

Perform a phone screen

Before you bring in a candidate for an in-person interview, it makes sense to first screen them over the phone. You can check to see if the person has the qualities of a good employee and assess their level of interest.

For the candidate, a phone screen helps him or her learn more in-depth about not only the position itself but also the company and company culture. For hiring managers, a phone screen acts as an additional filter before bringing people in for in-person interviews.

Here are a few questions you can ask in a phone screen:

• Why are you interested in this position?
• Why are you looking for a new job?
• Why do you think you’re a good match for this position?
• Are you able to commute to our office location every day?
• What is your earliest start date?

Make sure to take notes during the phone interview so you can review after the phone screen whether or not you’d like to have the candidate come in for an in-person interview.

Prepare for the in-person interview

As an interviewer, it’s critical to actually take steps to prepare for your interviewees. Make sure that you have all of the questions you want to ask beforehand. Give yourself a set time for the interview. And make sure to prepare any assessments or evaluations that you want the interviewees to take beforehand.

Conclusion: Finding the perfect employee for your business

Finding an employee for your business isn’t always easy. It takes time to sort through interviews, screen potential candidates, and finally, invite a select few in for an in-person interview. However, by following the tips in our guide, you can streamline the process and find an ideal employee who will help contribute their skills and energy to your company.