Using a Hiring Agency

In an earlier post we talked about the ins and outs of hiring good employees-after all, your employees are the bread and butter of your industry! Sometimes you don't have time to step into the labor intensive process of looking around for an employee that meets your specifications, however. After all, it takes time and effort to target trade publications, and screening the resumes of hundreds of potential candidates can feel like more trouble than it's worth. It takes less time out of your day to just do the job you need someone else to do than it does to go on a hiring spree.

That's why many companies decide to bring in a hiring agency.

Hiring agencies specialize in sifting through the resumes of their own potential pool of applicants and finding one that will meet your needs. They'll check out their background and qualifications, as well as their education and personal skills, to find out how they match up with the job descriptions you send them. Once the candidates have passed their test they'll be passed on to you!

Bringing in a hiring agency can save your human resources people hours of aggravation, especially if yours is a small business and you ARE your human resources department! It's important, however, that you pick the right hiring agency. Look for one that specializes in placing individuals in your industry, and if they happen to be local that's even better. (That saves you having to worry about bringing in applicants from California for a job in New York, since most of them are going to want help with their relocation that your current profit margins may not be able to provide.)

Once you've brought the right hiring agency into the mix you can sit back, relax and focus on your marketing strategies knowing your business is in good hands.

Strategies for Hiring Good Employees

Your employees are a vital part of your business, acting as front line communication between you and your customers. In many cases, your employees are the foundation your business is built on-after all, how often does the company CEO have time to get to know each and every one of their consumers? It's sad but true-if you spent all day interacting with your customer base you'd never get anything else done! That's why hiring good employees is one of the most important steps you'll ever take in ensuring the success of your business.

The first step to hiring good employees is advertising in the right places. If you're looking for an entry level worker and on the job training is provided local advertising (newspapers, help wanted signs) are a perfectly acceptable method of searching for employees. If you're looking for an employee with certain skills or certifications, however, you're going to have to be a bit more selective.

Advertising in trade publications and taking part in career fairs are great ways to get in touch with employees that have the credentials you need.

Once you have a pool of candidates it's time to start the interview process. Try to keep your interview questions general as opposed to leading) and cover all your bases. Ask them about their skills and their education, as well as specific job experiences that have prepared them for the challenge you're asking them to take on. Find out how they respond in a crisis, and don't be afraid to toss some psychological questions in there-it's a good way to see how easily they shift gears as well as breaking through their interview persona.

When the interview is done and you've got four or five candidates you like, check their references. It's tempting to skip this step, but good employees almost always have a strong work history and a long list of satisfied employers. If they've done the job well in the past there's a good chance they'll do the job well in the future, making them an extremely valuable resource and allowing you to offer them the job, then sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.