Hiring is Key

As you get started, the thought of hiring employees may be the last thing on your mind. Maybe you plan to run a one-person shop and leave it at that. But what if business picks up and you can’t keep up with the demands on your time?

Hiring additional help may be critical not only to your growth, but for building and maintaining a reputation for reliability. It is never too early to start thinking about hiring employees and the skills they need to have.

In truth, most small businesses (8 out of 10) in the U.S. have only a single employee. The vast majority of them are just like you — owners that don’t have huge overhead or massive inventories. There’s nothing that says you need to aim for the stars with plans to add dozens or even hundreds of employees.

That doesn’t mean you won’t grow and add employees later. Business could pick up to the point where you can no longer handle it alone. Or you may need to free up time for tasks only you, as a business owner, can handle. That could be the perfect time to take the next step and add a staff member or two.

First, spend some time considering the pros and cons:

Is the timing right?
Shifting from sole proprietor to boss is a big step. From that point forward, you take on additional responsibility for the welfare of your employee(s) in addition to yourself and the business. Make sure your business is growing strongly enough that you will be able to consistently cover your increased staffing costs.

Honestly, what do you really need?
When you look at revenues, can you really justify hiring an employee? If so, how many can you afford? Will they be full-time or part-time? Will they have regular hours or be on-call? Have you given any thought to providing employee benefits? If so, what will they consist of and how much will they cost?

Can you make the right hires?
Before posting a job opening, know the specific skills each position requires. This is critical in assessing applicants’ abilities to handle day-to-day duties as well as more complicated tasks.

When you’re ready to start hiring, keep these tips in mind:

• Ask friends, relatives and business associates for suggestions.
• Search for candidates online using reputable tools such as CareerSource Florida, Florida’s Employ Marketplace, LinkedIn and Indeed.
• Tap into industry association websites.
• Hire a reputable staffing agency.

As applications roll in, keep a running list of those that stand out and screen them first by phone. Identify strengths and weaknesses, while looking for skill sets that best fit the job you want to fill. Do you need someone outgoing and personable? Someone with leadership skills? Are there certain working styles you prefer? After the initial phone screening, invite the leading candidates in for an in-person interview, with the goal of determining overall readiness for the job at hand.

Ideally, you would narrow your final choices to no more than four before inviting candidates to your workplace for a lengthy conversation. You might consider an interview over lunch and introducing the candidate to other key employees — giving them a chance to interact.

After your interviews, make a list of what you like and don’t like about each candidate. Once all the interviews are over, you’ll know which candidate best fits your workplace and the people who already work there. This way, you will be able to extend a job offer with confidence.

Connecting with Potential Employees
Depending on the state of the labor market, it can be tough to draw the attention of the best and brightest employees. When putting together your job description, look for ways to make your company stand out from others. Focus on unique opportunities or attractive benefits and perks. Consider adding a video to your pitch to help potential employees better understand your company.

Keep in mind, though, that you don’t want to oversell your company or the position you are hiring. Employees are wary of promises that sound too good to be true. They want honesty from their employers along with a paycheck and benefits that reflect their true worth. Do your best to provide them.

 

Be Ready with the Right Paperwork
When your new hire arrives on day one, make sure you have three important forms ready to fill out:

• I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification)
• W-4 (Employee’s Withholding Allowance and Certificate)
• Florida New Hire Reporting Form (due within 20 days of hire; available at servicesforemployers.floridarevenue.com)

Note: Florida law requires that businesses use federal form I-9 (also known as E-Verify) to check the employment eligibility of new hires.