Whether you always intended to grow and scale your company or have found that your side-hustle has taken off in new and unexpected ways, hiring your first employee(s) can be daunting.
After all, many entrepreneurs view their business as their ‘baby,’ meaning that handing over even the smallest amount of responsibility feels unfathomable. In addition to this, it can be difficult to attract the top talent, especially when you’re up against larger or more established companies and brands.
That being said, it can also open many doors for your business. For example, it will have a near-instantaneous impact on productivity, efficiency and output, all of which will set your business up for success.
With that in mind, here are some useful tips for hiring your first employees!
Know what you are looking for. Having a clear idea in mind of both the kind of employee you’re looking for and the role you’d like them to fill within your team is crucial during this time. For example, while you may currently be working across a wide variety of roles, from accounting to marketing, finding employees who are equipped to do the same is rare. Instead, figure out what your weakest skills are, and find talented individuals who can take on this work on your behalf.
Write an excellent job description. The more detailed and clear your job descriptions are, the more applications you will receive. This is because candidates have a better idea of what they are getting themselves in for (and their eligibility) ahead of time. Still not convinced? A recent study found that “52% of job seekers abandon applications due to unclear job descriptions.”
Implement wellness schemes. Hiring your employees is only half of the battle – you then need to make sure you maintain good retention levels. Otherwise, you’ll be right back at square one again within a few months. One way to achieve this goal is by implementing stellar wellness schemes ahead of time. For example, you could ensure they can access the kind of pastoral support offered by chaplain organizations, which can reduce stress and anxiety and ensure they remain happy at work.
Being able to let potential hires know that you have these systems in place will also increase the chances of them accepting a job offer, as they know their needs will be respected in the workplace.
Work on your leadership skills. Working on your leadership skills and ability is also crucial when hiring for the first time. Otherwise, your new team members will lack both direction and focus. If this is something that you have little experience in, consider enrolling in some online or in-person courses ahead of time, so that you are suitably prepared to rise to this challenge.
Final thoughts. While you may feel overwhelmed about the idea of hiring new employees, remember that this is a good thing for both your business and your own well-being. Furthermore, by taking the above factors into account, you can ensure that the process runs as smoothly as possible.
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