Most entrepreneurs launch their startups as a one-person show, but very few of them can say that they stayed that way for long. With any luck, business will pick up in no time at all, causing you to need extra help to tackle the larger workload. Hiring this first employee is a huge deal for you and your company. Not only does it mean taking on additional responsibilities, but it also means handing over a few to an outsider. To ensure you do it right, here are six things you must do.
- Know What You Need
Before you start advertising a position, you need to consider exactly the sort of help that you need. If you only require someone for a short while, then you may find that outsourcing work is a more appropriate decision. If an in-house team member is definitely needed, ensure you define the position clearly, listing the responsibilities, hours, salary, and other benefits of the role.
- Handle The Legal Side
Becoming an employer isn’t as simple as giving someone work and paying them for it each month. You need to ensure that you have all of your legal ducks in a row or you could face big trouble later down the line. To make this easier, you may want to consult with an employment law firm, like Ogletree Deakins. This can save you money, as well as a major legal headache.
- Advertise The Position Online
For potential candidates to see that you have a position available, you need to find somewhere to advertise it. The go-to place for this used to be local newspapers, but, these days, most find it easier to hunt for jobs online. With that in mind, be sure you place your listing on a few different sites. Many of these are free, but you can often pay to be placed higher on search results.
- Properly Prepare For Interviews
You wouldn’t expect potential employees to go into interviews unprepared, so you can’t do it either. To make the most of the short time you have with each individual, you need to know exactly what the interview is going to entail. This means writing down a list of questions and topics you will cover. You may also want to do some research on each interviewee.
- Always Check The References
We all want to assume that people are good and truthful, but the sad fact is that candidates lie in interviews all the time. Because of this, it’s absolutely vital that you take the time to check references before you offer someone a job. You may also want to ask for proof of their qualifications or have them perform specific tasks to show that they do possess certain skills.
- Choose The Right Candidate
Once the interviews are over, the only thing left for you to do is choose the right person for the job. Make sure you consider a person’s potential and personality, rather than just their experience and skills, as these factors are just as important in candidates. After all of the paperwork is sorted out, introduce your new hire to any other team members and get them to work.
Hiring your first employee is a big step, so do it right by following the advice above.