As an entrepreneur, you have to wear many hats. You’re the manager, the accountant, the worker, the marketer, etc. It can be rewarding to fulfill all of these different roles. You get to create and run your business exactly how you see fit. But, at some point, it becomes too much. You’re overrun. So much is on your plate that the quality of your services is suffering. You’re even turning away work because you’re so busy. It’s time to hire your first employee.
There comes a time when you need to hire outside help. Some entrepreneurs might hesitate to do so, but you’ll find hiring an employee to be well worth it. The extra help will make your life easier and leave you free to focus your attention where it’s needed most.
As exciting as this decision is, it’s something you should carefully consider. Make a checklist of what steps you need to take to vet applicants. You’ll need to consider what the step will be. For example, will you be using disc surveys to understand the personalities of applicants or new employees? What kind of interview process will you use? Here are 5 things to keep in mind before hiring your first employee.
1. Background Checks Are Important
As an employer, you have a legal responsibility to ensure a safe workplace. One of the best ways to protect your staff and customers is through a background check.
Deciding what you need help with from the beginning will go a long way. It will help you write a concise, clear job description. You can use this job description alongside personality screening services to sift for the right culture and personality fit for your company, You may ask yourself what is the 16 Personalities assessment? It is important to have a look yourself to understand what qualities the test is questioning candidates on. This way, you are aware of the kind of answers candidates will be giving. By using both a capability-based job description and a personality test, you can find an employee who is the right fit culturally and also capable of handling the role.
Background checks cost money and can take a little time, but they are well worth the effort. As the article “How Long Do Background Checks Take?” discusses, familiarizing yourself with the process will help avoid delays. This keeps candidates interested in your position and prevents you from losing them to other employers. Consider ways in which you can engage potential hires to keep them interested or consider measures you can take to reduce the time for screening to be run. One method might be to perform pre-employment drug testing in-house; there are courses online that can be taken to perform this as a company. If taking this route, it is important to brush up on the rules regarding drug testing to ensure you stay compliant with DOT testing rules. If this is done, time and money can be saved on outsourcing to a third-party tester.
2. Ensure You Can Afford an Employee
Hiring an employee isn’t cheap. Aside from their salary, you’ll have to cover insurance costs, employment taxes, and other fees (depending on where you live). You may also want to provide 401k contributions, paid time off, and other benefits.
So, before hiring help, you’ll want to run the numbers. Ensure that you can afford an employee and that their presence will be worth the cost. If you want to avoid the overhead costs, you can consider remote hiring.
3. Decide What You Need Help With
Before hiring, figure out what you need help with. Do you need someone to manage your finances? Coordinate your marketing strategy? Provide customer service? Deciding what you need help with from the beginning will go a long way. It will help you write a concise, clear job description. This will attract the right candidates and encourage them to apply.
4. Look in the Right Places
When hiring, lots of companies use websites like Glassdoor and Indeed. These sites can be a great way to seek out talented candidates. However, don’t underestimate the power of word-of-mouth. Ask friends and business contacts if they know of any qualified candidates. This is a great way to find employees you know you can count on.
5. Don’t Skip the Interviews
When you’re hiring your first employee, you might think interviews are too formal. But, if you want to hire the right person from the start, you really shouldn’t skip interviews. Interviews are a great way to get to know potential candidates. You can get a feel for their personality and why they want to work for your company. Through interviews, you will pick up on their vibe and better determine if they would make a good fit.
Conclusion
Hiring your first employee might be intimidating, but it’s also exciting. It’s a major milestone that will help you take your business to new heights. Keep our tips in mind, you will find the perfect employee for your business in no time.
