Hiring your first employee is an exciting time for any business owner. When you get to a point where you can no longer do everything on your own, and you need to bring somebody in to help you, it’s a sure sign that your business is going in the right direction. But the people that you hire to work for your business can make or break it, and you want to make sure that the first employee you take on is the right fit for your company both now and in the future. Here’s what to look for:
Experience Working with Startups
Somebody who understands the ebbs and flows of working with a startup and supporting a brand-new business will be ideal for you during these early stages. No matter how much experience somebody has in their field if they are used to working for large, successful companies, then working for a small, growing business can come as a bit of a shock. Of course, you might find that the ideal person for your company has never had any startup experience, but it’s always worth looking for.
Passion for What You Do
As a business owner, you’ll probably never find somebody who is as passionate about your company as you are, but it’s a good idea to look for somebody who comes close. You need somebody who is dedicated and excited to help you make the business succeed, rather than somebody who just wants to come in, do their work then go home. Find somebody with a genuine passion for your industry who loves the products and services that you offer and is willing to go the extra mile to help you do well.
Dedication
Hiring employees can be an expensive process, and the last thing that you need is somebody who is going to leave after just a few weeks or months. Although you can never predict how long an employee is going to stick around for, and a lot of it will ride on how well you treat them, it’s a good idea to take a look at how long they’ve stuck at other jobs when you read their resume. If they tend to be in a new role every six months, they might not be in it for the long-haul when it comes to working with you.
Soft Skills
If you are hiring just one employee to help you with the business, chances are they are going to be wearing multiple hats in their role. Because of this, it’s important to look for somebody with a strong set of soft skills who is eager to learn and can easily adapt to the often changing conditions of running and working for a startup. It’s essential to find somebody who is a great communicator, can take the initiative, and switch from different jobs easily.
Creativity
A creative person is going to be a real asset for your company, so look for somebody who isn’t afraid to think outside the box and bring their own ideas to the table. Of course, you might not agree with every single idea that they have, but then, on the other hand, they might come up with some awesome suggestions that you wouldn’t have considered.
Strong References
Always ask for references when screening and interviewing candidates for the job role. Bear in mind that not everybody is completely truthful on their resume, and it can be easy for candidates to pull the wool over your eyes and make you believe that they are better at their job than they actually turn out to be. By asking for references, you can get in touch with their previous employers and find out more about them, information that the candidate themself might not as forthcoming with.
Background Check
Finally, it’s a good idea to always conduct a DBS check and background check on your candidates to make sure that they are who they say that they are, and they don’t have any unsavory history that you might not want for your business. Of course, you might decide to give somebody a second chance if they have a past criminal record and are working to improve their lives, and that’s up to you, but there also might be some histories that are a complete no-go.
You can use this background check company, One Source Background, to find out more about your potential new hires and provide you with more information that you can use to make your decision. Visit onesourcebackground.com where you will be able to screen for all the regular things like education or criminal history, along with whether or not there have ever been any reports of problematic behavior in the workplace against them, such as sexual harassment.
Expanding your new company by hiring an employee is always an exciting time, but it’s important to put the work in to make sure that you find the right fit.
