One of the most stressful things for a manager to do in the small business setting is finding the right people to hire. People often present their best selves in the application and interview process, meaning that you may or may not actually be getting what was advertised. Here are some quick tips on how to go about it all in the best way.

Use a Recruiting Company

Recruiting companies can be extremely useful. Why? They take the pressure off you to do any of the searching or advertising. They also tend to be connected to potential employees who are a lot more serious about job searching. They have better experience, background, and referrals. The downside is that a recruiting firm will cost money. They also might not even be available, depending on the kind of business you are. It might simply not make sense to use a recruiting firm if the required position only necessitates unskilled labor. Do the proper research on which recruiting companies could be a good fit for you, if any.

Take Advantage of the Interview

If you do decide to go about the hiring process on your own terms, you are going to want to focus on the interview step. It is the most crucial. In an application, a potential hire can write down whatever they want, but you can use the interview to gauge how genuine they are. You can also briefly test any relevant skills they claim to have. The interview is the time for you to listen and learn about the candidate. You can observe what unique perspectives, skills, and life experience they can bring to the team. The interview provides the crucial human connection between employer and potential employee.

Networking

Nobody likes to do it. Networking is frustrating, after all, and often doesn’t yield immediately obvious results. Sometimes it can feel like you’re annoying or kissing up to people in order to get what you want. But there genuinely is nothing more valuable for both the employee and employer. You can either talk to currently or previously employed persons who you trust will provide good referrals. You can talk to others in your market (especially locally) who can point you in other directions.

Every experienced manager knows the synergetic feeling of having a business of hardworking, efficient, passionate, and fulfilled employees who want to get things done. That should be the goal here; as abstract or difficult as it may seem to be, the truth is that it is entirely achievable.

Check out this article on how to think more long-term about your business!