MightyRecruiterAs a small business owner, you’re always up for trying new things. After all, that’s probably one of the reasons why you started your own business in the first place. Although some of these things are fun and exciting, others can be a bit intimidating, like making the call when it’s time to hire your first full-time employee. When it comes to small business advice, this is one topic that there isn’t a concrete answer to, but there are definite ways to tell that it might be the right move.
You Can’t Do it All
When it comes to small business advice, there’s one big thing you need to remember ï you can’t do it all. This is especially true since you have to manage so many different tasks on your own as a small business owner. However, you need to think about whether these tasks are hindering your vision, instead of allowing your operations to grow and thrive.
Signs it’s Time
If you feel like you need to hire your first full-time employee, but you’re not sure you’re there yet, there are three main signs you should watch out for. First, pay attention to whether or not you’re turning down work because you simply can’t handle a larger load. However, make sure that turning away work happens on a regular basis, and not just because you choose not to take on other revenue streams for more personal reasons.
Second, you need to consider whether or not an entirely new revenue stream exists for your operations if you were to take on an employee. Although it’s good to hire someone simply to take extra work off of your hands, there’s nothing to say you can’t add people to your team for the sake of branching out into other areas. For example, let’s say you can build a killer website, but you have a hard time designing solid logos. This is where adding an employee who not only can help you with your own tasks, but other services you could offer, can prove to be very handy.
Finally, think about whether or not you’ve been receiving an inordinate amount of complaints lately. While complaints aren’t always a bad thing in the world of small business advice, if they’re becoming a regular thing, this could indicate that your quality is slipping because you’ve spread yourself too thin. Take things a step further and identify what these negative complaints are saying, and what can be done to remedy the issues your clients are bringing forward.
Managing the Process
In addition to watching out for the signs it’s time you need to take on a full-time employee, one important piece of small business you shouldn’t ignore revolves around managing the hiring process the right way. As you get ready to start looking for candidates:
-Ask others where they find their candidatesïIf there’s someone in your industry who you trust, ask them their best small business advice for locating great employees. There might be some great resources you can tap into to recruit people you might have never thought of.
-Look at social medial profilesïIn today’s world, social media is a great place to recruit, not only because you can find people quickly and easily, but also because you can find out more about candidates simply by perusing their profiles. If you do decide to recruit using social media, take a few minutes and review candidates’ social profiles before having them come in for an interview. You might be surprised by what you find, both good and bad.
-Know what you wantïSince you’ve never hired an employee before, it’s absolutely critical that you know what characteristics you’re looking for in an employee and what role your new employee is going to fill. This will ensure that you’re able to find someone who will actually be helpful to you and complement the company culture you’re trying to create.
-Don’t be afraid to say ïnoïïAfter doing a few interviews, it can be tough to tell whether a seemingly stellar candidate is actually the right choice for your business. At this point, pay attention to what your gut is telling you and don’t be afraid to tell someone ïnoï if you feel like you might have to end up letting them go two months down the road.
As long as you follow this small business advice when you start searching for your first full-time employee, chances are, you’ll be pleased with how things turn out. If you want to find out more about recruiting all-star hires to your team, make sure you check out the resources Mighty Recruiter has to offer.