A nationally known Employment/HR Attorney, Don Phin, has always said to me that hiring the best is easier when you have a guide to doing so. Here are some of the points I have learned from him over the years.
- Great companies have great employees, so commit to hiring only the best!
- Make sure you have written job descriptions. Verify with those performing and supervising the job that these job descriptions are accurate. For free templates go to www.onetcenter.org.
- Think outside the box. Don’t limit your sources for good employees. Use employee referral programs and your marketing department to help out.
- Avoid hiring someone who averages more than one employer every two years. That’s how long they will last with you.
- Use a rating system so that early candidates are not forgotten in the interview process. See the Applicant Appraisal Form.
- Where possible, promote from within to maintain employee morale.
- A person with an extensive self-employment background is very likely to go back to self employment as soon as possible. Hire this person as a consultant.
- Workers with a disability often do a better job with greater loyalty and fewer absences. You may also obtain tax credits and other benefits.
- Use a temporary employment agency, independent contractor or pay overtime instead of hiring an employee in haste.
- Conduct a pre-hire character assessment. We recommend www.zeroriskhr.com.
- Try to have the person leaving the position and future co-workers interview their applicants. See the Co-Employment Applicant Appraisal Form.
- Test the technical skills and industry knowledge of every job applicant. Go to www.shl.com.
- Evaluate a potential employee’s energy levels. Interviewing them at different times of the day. Challenge them in the interview to see how they react.
- Carefully investigate any gaps in employment.
- Get outside agencies or recruiters to help if you won’t follow a powerful hiring process.
- Use pre-employment questionnaires and interview extensively.
- Conduct post-offer/pre-hire physicals where appropriate.
- Check an applicant’s background and all references thoroughly, including criminal, credit and DMV records. We highly recommend www.globalhrresearch.com.
- Memorialize the terms of employment using offer letters and employment contracts. See the Sample Offer Letter.
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