One of the big mistakes many new, first-time entrepreneurs make when it comes to hiring is taking the first available warm body that shows real interest to fill the position. New business owners have dreamed of doing their own thing and being the boss, and while starting their new business can be exciting, oftentimes people don't spend the time to find the right person for their open positions. Here are a few tips to consider when hiring for your new endeavor:
Find the right skills: Many new business owners may look to their closer circle of friends to find someone who needs a new job. Working with friends can be nice, but can turn into a nightmare when times get tough. Also, for a new start-up business, hiring someone who claims to be a fast learner is rarely a good idea. Larger companies with training plans in place are able to hire fast learners and train them, but new businesses need experienced people that will be able to avoid making the types of mistakes fast learners tend to make. In order to hit the ground running, you need people with the appropriate skills to catapult the business towards success from day one. You may need to pay more to an experienced person, but in the long run it will be a better investment.
Find drive, enthusiasm and persistence: Most new businesses will struggle in the early days while making a name for themselves and competing for new customers. This means it is important to hire people with high energy and competitive drive that will work well under pressure and competition. Candidates with a history in sports or other personal and professional competitions will often be more suited for this initial start-up time. Above just having a competitive and winning attitude, employees must also show persistence. New businesses tend to have that initial time where there are ups and downs and setbacks. You need people in place who can push through difficulties and will not easily be beaten down under the pressure. A good candidate will be one that has the competitive spirit to face challenges, and the ability to get past setbacks and keep moving forward.
Find problem solvers: On top of all of the traits discussed so far, it is important to find people that are problem solvers and not those who will quickly pass the buck or point the finger elsewhere in times of trouble. When a road block appears, or a plan has failed to perform as expected, you need someone to take the obstacle in stride and move forward into new directions. Having someone that just plays the blame game will just make the situation worse and slow progress right when it needs a boost.
When it comes to sorting through the resumes, one business professional shared this applicable tip:
I find that the most productive way to quickly sort through resumes, online or offline, is to have your written job criteria list on hand. If a candidate doesn’t meet your top three criteria for experience and expertise, then discard the person’s resume and move on. Hiring decisions are easy. It all comes down to this: If your game is football, don't hire (and pay top dollar for) the trophy-winning polo player.
These are but a few simple guidelines to consider when you step out on your own to start a new business. If you have already done so, and have travelled down the road of trial and error, please share some tips in the comments sections for others to consider.
Image courtesy of renjith krishnan | freedigitalphotos.net
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