How to recruit, interview people for your business

    
As a small business owner, hiring outstanding employees is essential to helping your company to grow and prosper. ADEMOLA ALAWIYE writes on techniques that will help you to hire the best hands

Recruiting and interviewing prospective employees require time and money. Successful businesses use established techniques to identify and hire suitable employees. Adherence to federal and state laws and preventing discrimination against protected groups are of primary importance. Other factors such as budget, business cycles and the nature of the position dictate the approach taken by employers.

It is important to detail the skills required for each position prior to a recruitment drive.

As any small business expands, there will be a need for adequate assistance and inputs from employees. The entrepreneur, therefore, has to source for workers to help him to achieve his goal.

Experts say some small business entrepreneurs spend so much time trying to market their business, as well as undertake other tasks. This, they say, can be very demanding, and may lead to a system breakdown, if care is not taken.

At this point, it is important for the entrepreneur to employ the services of another worker to help out with assigned duties. They note that working so hard may make an entrepreneur to forsake some of his marital obligations and this may not augur well with the entrepreneur’s spouse.

Management experts and owners of established companies say that hiring an employee is a big step and a big responsibility. According to them, it has both tangible and intangible factors to consider. They note that there are many favourable sources of information on hiring the right person after advertising, writing a job description, conducting interviews, getting employee, etc.

Experts note that to avoid being sanctioned by regulatory agencies, small business entrepreneurs must understand some basic information before they start hiring workers.

Below are tips to guide you, according to experts:

Arrange employee identification

According to experts, this is important because it will be used to identify your employee when at work in your office and when he or she is not in office.

They note that this is the first thing to consider when planning to hire workers for your business.

Experts say this should be done when you have been able to get an Employer Identification Number from designated agencies as stipulated by the federal or state government.

Write out job description

The employees you seek must know what they will offer when they work for you. This can be achieved by adequately detailing the job description for interested persons who will visit your office for employment opportunity.

They say the job description should be used to determine the necessary skills needed for the position, the employee’s education status and his/her experience.

Experts note that the entrepreneur should also use the job description to find out whether he can afford to hire somebody with those qualifications.

They say the entrepreneur should remember to include all the costs of a new employee, not just the monthly wage. This, however, depends on what terms of payment is agreed with the employee.

Entrepreneurs should also consider other benefits, which the employee will receive after resuming duty and working for some time with the company.

They note that the entrepreneur might seek the services of an accountant to help him with the estimation. This is in order not to hire someone that he cannot afford to pay.

Advertise for the right person

Advertising for the right person is important because it gives you the chance of getting the best talents that will help to move your business good steps forward.

Experts say once the entrepreneur knows that he can afford to hire, the next line of action is to find the right person for the job.

They note that the first step is spreading the information through classified ads, word-of-mouth, and using the services of employment agencies.

Other channels of circulating the search could be through schools, associations and religious groups.

Experts note that after you have screened applications or resumes and interviewed outstanding candidates, you should check the references of applicants carefully.

When the job is offered and accepted by suitably qualified persons, the entrepreneur should let the employees fill out employment forms according to the demand of his business and the state.

Understand regulatory demands

The demand of regulatory agencies must be understood by the entrepreneur as he embarks on the process of recruiting workers.

The entrepreneurs must understand what the Pension Reform Act states, what insurance policies are suitable for his workers, the employment compensation due them, and their severance package when due, taxes to be paid and other benefits which they are entitled to. This will help him to deal legally with his workers.

Decide employee payment model

The entrepreneur may pay employees daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on the terms of agreement reached with the employee.

He should, therefore, sort this out so as not to have differences with his workers. He should calculate the gross pay and must negotiate overtime with the employees.

The tax of the workers must be remitted, in order to avoid sanctions from authorities and the entrepreneur should calculate all medical entitlements for his employee when due. This also depends on the terms of employment as agreed between both parties.

Understand labour laws

The labour laws of the land must be understood by the entrepreneur and he must make sure he keeps to them. This is to prevent industrial actions by workers and to help the smooth running of his business.

Experts say finding, hiring and keeping good employees are crucial to the success of any business.

Therefore, it is important to follow the steps outlined above and this will make you to grow your business, while complying with state and federal stipulations and demands as it affects your business.

Copyright PUNCH.