Hiring Your First Employees: What to Consider

Many businesses reach the exciting stage where they must hire their first employee. Maybe you need help with packing up orders and replying to customers, or perhaps you’re swamped with the endless odd jobs and need a good all-rounder.

No matter how desperate you are for an extra hand, though, hiring isn’t something to take lightly. Who you hire can make or break your business, especially if you plan on dishing out high levels of responsibility. To make sure you hire an employee that is reliable, hard-working and trustworthy, and who enjoys working for you, here is what to consider first.

How Much Experience is Required  

First of all, you need to think about how much experience is necessary for the job you are hiring for. If it’s a simple packaging job, you probably don’t need someone with reams of experience. For more complicated roles, though, you might consider hiring someone with extensive work experience or good qualifications.

Of course, don’t get too concerned with experience in the beginning, especially if it’s a role that you can train. After all, you can train your new employees to become talented and knowledgeable in areas specific to your company.

What You Can Offer Your Employees

Hiring someone isn’t just about ensuring that they’re good enough for your company – it’s also about impressing potential candidates so that they want to work for you. This is why you must consider what you have to offer your new employees. Training opportunities, such as a leadership or a first aid course, makes your company far more attractive. If the candidates know they can grow while in your employment, they’ll be more eager to work for you.  

The Amount of Space to Provide 

Do you have the room to employ people? Every staff member needs a reasonable amount of space to ensure they are not cramped inside a tiny office or cubicle each day. If your current workplace is too small, move to a larger place before starting the hiring process.

The Best Onboarding Process 

Onboarding is essential for settling in your new employees and making sure they are the right fit for your business. There are plenty of ways to go about the onboarding process, but your main goals are to ensure staff know the rules, understand their roles, and are comfortable and content working for you. To reduce the amount of paperwork, consider using employee onboarding software. 

What to Look Out for on CVs 

Reading multiple CVs is tiring work, especially when you don’t know what to look out for. Generally, the best CVs are those that are well-written, detail active experience, and are clear and concise. No one wants to read three pages detailing non-relevant experience, after all. There should be bonus points for cover letters, too, especially if they are specific to your company.

How to Write a Great Job Description 

The quality of your job description is imperative. A badly worded one without the right amount of information will only turn talented candidates away. One that is well-written, informative, and transparent, however, will appeal to more job-searchers. Some specifics you should include in the job description are the salary, the daily tasks, and the expected number of work hours.

How to Provide a Positive Work Environment 

You might think you are great to work for, but you don’t know for sure until you actually have an employee working for you. Due to this, you must research and understand how to provide a positive work environment in advance. Playing it by ear doesn’t usually work! Some simple ways to create a positive workspace include decorating well, allowing flexibility, and being open to feedback.

Safety Regulations 

As a solo business owner, you likely didn’t need to think too much about safety regulations. With employees, though, you have a whole new responsibility – keeping them safe while at work. Before hiring, be sure to go over the safety regulations needed so that you don’t put anyone at risk.

How Much You Will Pay 

Before starting the employment process, you should know how much you can afford and how much their salary will be. Even if you want to work it out depending on the chosen candidate, you still need a clear idea of your limits. After all, you must be sure you can afford the payroll each month without question.

How to Interview Properly 

If you have never interviewed a candidate before, you are likely going to feel nervous. What sort of questions are you supposed to ask? How do you know who is the best candidate for the role? Interviewing is a skill you will learn over time, but you should do some research about the best ways to interview before the first candidate walks through the door. Make sure you go into each interview with questions you genuinely want the answer to, such as what sort of experience they have or when they have shown great initiative.

It’s important to prepare before hiring your first ever employees. By doing so, you are far more likely to lead a team of talented and passionate individuals.