Growing a business is challenging, but it’s easier when you have a team supporting the process. Making your first hire as a startup is exciting. It means you’ve got the very basics figured out, and you’re taking your business to the next level.
Getting the right team on board is a crucial part of growing your business. Employees don’t just need to be qualified on paper. They need to fit with the culture you’re hoping to build, understand your company’s values and goals, and buy into the growth of your business. Finding the best employees starts with having the best hiring process possible.
Most small business owners are first-time employers, so it can be overwhelming to start figuring out the hiring process. Whether you fit that category, or if you just want to make sure your process will give you rockstar employees, make sure you follow these key steps.
Start With Understanding Your Needs
Job descriptions are underrated. To some entrepreneurs, they may seem unnecessary and cumbersome. Don’t be fooled by these myths. Writing a job description has uses for both the employer and the employee. They help to provide a double check for small businesses: “Do we really need to hire?” Even better, they help determine in which capacity to hire: “Should we be looking for a full-time or a part-time employee?” It’s not enough to have three bullet points of what you vaguely want your new employee to do. The most effective job descriptions delve into the details of the role and what you require of applicants. This will help weed out some candidates who would otherwise waste your time, and attract candidates who are serious about your company. As a startup, you’ll likely need your first employees to wear multiple hats. Make sure you’re clear about this in the job description and when interviewing as well.Finding your Rockstars
Now that you know who and why you need to hire, the obvious next step will be to find candidates. While there are always great new ways of getting the word out about your opportunity (like your social media pages), here are the basics:Posting a Job Opening
A job description that sits in depths of your laptop isn’t useful to anyone. The first step in getting the word out is to post your job description on relevant websites (including your own!). In determining where to post the job, consider your target employee. Are they fresh out of college? Are they looking specifically for a startup job? Are you trying to attract people who would typically apply at larger companies as well? Various job-hunting websites attract specific markets, so make sure you scope out what other employers have added to the platform. You can also use social media to post an opportunity. After adding a post on your own website, be sure to share this on your social media channels like LinkedIn or Facebook. Great candidates could find your business in a huge variety of ways.Application Process Do’s and Don’ts
There is no standard application process. Instead, your process should be directly correlated with what you are looking for in your new role. That means you, as an employer, need to be crystal clear on what that is. (Meaning, have a job description. Are you tired of hearing that yet?) While a cover letter and resume are the standard requirements for most jobs, additional steps in the process are at your discretion. You could add questionnaires, references, or even several layers of interviews to your process. Be sure to match your process with the level of the role. (Don’t have four interviews for a barista!) The depth of your process should match the level of commitment you require from the candidate. If you’re hiring for an hourly role, screen for the following information, as applicable:- weekly hours available & ideal schedule
- open to travel or relocating
- ability to lift a certain amount of weight
- driver’s license or ability to commute
- ability to perform job-related tasks
- openness to overtime
- previous job history
- ability to work weekends and holidays
How to Review Resumes
We’ve all heard the statistics on how long it takes recruiters to give a first-glance to a resume. Now, you get to be on their side. You won’t have time to thoroughly read ever resume you receive. Instead, scan and filter with the following qualifiers:- Does the resume have any glaring typos or grammar mistakes?
- Has the candidate put time into their resume, showing attention to detail and care about their first impression? (Consider their layout and design.)
- Is the candidate in or near the same city as you?
- Has the candidate worked in your industry?
- Are they at or close to the level you are hiring for?
- Have they worked in the specific function you’re hiring for?
- What degrees do they have?
- How often have they changed jobs?
- Have they achieved results? (Scan for numbers, percentages, and dollar signs.)
How to Interview
Once you’ve found your short list of resumes, it’s time to move into the most compelling part of the hiring process: the interview. The first thing to know is that interviews go both ways. This is not only an opportunity for you to assess the candidate but also for the candidate to assess you. Therefore, you should use the interview as an opportunity to share your culture and get them excited about their future work. The ideal interview process includes multiple interviewers and pre-set form of assessment. Having a crystal-clear idea of what you’re looking for allows you to have an informal method to grade candidates upon. During the interview, you should look out for these qualities: impact, ability to thrive in teams, accountability, analytical capabilities, comfort with uncertainty, and effective communication. When communicating with candidates, be sure to:- explain the process in detail (although not your rubric)
- be transparent about your timelines and goals
- use the same process for all candidates