1. Take recruiting seriously.
The lesson here is to treat your employee recruitment efforts as seriously and creatively as you would any other business-related endeavour. A new employee is a major investment. There is the cost of training and the cost you want to avoid – the mistake of hiring the wrong person.
2. Use your network.
Solicit referrals from customers,acquaintances, colleagues and current employees.
3. Use a recruitment agency.
Build relationships with key personnel who understand your company’s culture, work ethic and service offering.
4. Questions.
Prepare a list of questions to ask each candidate. By asking everyone the same interview questions in the same way, youwill be able to more fairly compare their responses.
5. Go with your gut feel.
Check the candidate’s references, but be warned that you may not get an accurate picture. Rely on insights you glean from the interview and by listening to your own gut feeling.
6. Make the new hire feel comfortable.
Put your best employee in charge of training the new hire and consider starting off with a three- or six-month trial period.
7. Always phone references.
Polite probing and an appeal for assistance usually generate critical information.