How to Hire a Staff

A business is only as good as the people it employs. Here are some steps for hiring an effective staff.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Before You Interview Prospective Employees

1. Determine exactly what jobs you need done.
2. Write precise job descriptions.
3. Conduct salary surveys among similar businesses in comparable locations to determine what each job will pay.
4. Advertise in appropriate media. If you need generalists, place employment ads in local newspapers. If you need specialists, consider advertising in trade publications or other specialized media, including job fairs and the Internet.
5. Consider using an employment service. If you have no idea how to get started hiring a staff, an agency can help you write job descriptions, put together an employee manual, devise a benefits package, and screen applicants.

During the Interview Process

6. Interview carefully. Focus on the applicant's qualifications and ability to do the job, not on extraneous issues such as appearance, race, gender, religion, disability or other issues that do not pertain to the position.
7. Bring others into the interview process. Ask the applicant to meet with several managers, so that you can get others' impressions of the candidate.
8. Check references and employment history. Many employers also ask that applicants agree to credit-history checks and pre-employment drug screenings.
9. Put your offer in writing, spelling out the job description, hours, salary, benefits, vacation and sick time, and other pertinent details.

Tips & Warnings

• Know how much you can afford in terms of number of employees and salary ranges before you list jobs.
• Allow current employees to compete for promotions or other new openings that might be of interest.
• Make sure the job description is accurate, so people will know what they are applying for.
• A job fair is an effective way to meet prospective employees. It also allows for personalized contact before the interview, providing you with a chance to get an impression of the applicant. Local newspapers and trade groups often stage job fairs for particular industries such as services, high-tech or sales.
• During the initial search and the interview process, be careful not to ask for information about the applicant's race, age or disability. These types of questions are not legal. If you decide not to hire the person, he or she might allege that your decision was based on illegal discrimination.