Reader Question: “I keep hiring people that let me down. I ask a lot of questions, discuss compensation, and even give them practice projects. They seem great at first, but I keep getting burned. How do I make sure they are the right fit BEFORE I hire them?”
Read Time: 3 Minutes
Whether you’re a solopreneur looking to expand and delegate, or a seasoned CEO, hiring is always a leap of faith. And honestly, it can be a scary one! – But it doesn’t have to be!
You are not alone! According to CareerBuilder, 74% of employers have hired the wrong person for the job!
Additionally, “Seventeen percent of small business employers say one bad hire costs between $1000 and $2500. 1 in 5 (20 percent) say it costs between $2500 and $5000, and 11 percent say it costs between $5000 and $10,000.”
Understandably, taking that leap of faith can be scary as heck!
Sadly, there is no way to be 100% certain that someone will gel well in your business, but you can be about 95% sure!
Practice projects are great, and I HIGHLY recommend them, but you need to know if they fit your company culture beyond their competency.
That’s why this week’s high-five is dedicated to finding the RIGHT person for the job, for you, and for your company!
Top 5 Things You Need To Know Before Hiring
Weekly High Five
1
Your Expectations
Sit down and list out every task you need them to complete, when, and how often. Then create a clear + concise job description.
2
Your Processes
Before hiring, you need to map out how things get done. This will create step-by-step instructions they can refer back to, so they don’t constantly have to ask you.
3
Their Expectations
They will be coming into this opportunity with their own expectations; find out how they see themselves working within your business, what they hope to gain from this relationship, and how they envision their role in the future.
4
Efficiency Styles
How do you work best? Do you thrive on consistency? Do you like to work months ahead? Do you tend to procrastinate? Are you organized? What hours do you work? How do you communicate your thoughts? These are individual traits you will both need to discuss to determine if this relationship will work for you!
5
Boundaries
Communication Boundaries specifically! How many emails are too many emails? Is Slack distracting or helpful? Will they be expected to work weekends or nights? What hours do you expect them to be available?
The only way to know if someone will fit into your company culture is to get to know them a bit! If you take the time to establish and discuss all of these things up front, you won’t have any surprises down the road! Neither will they.
Setting these expectations early will ensure that you both work in a way that works for the other, encourages the other, and is respectful of the other. Setting expectations is essential. It can be a big job, but it is essential before making your hiring decision.
