Moving from a sole trader or one person band to hiring staff – what business owners need to consider – Newsletter, July 2019

 

Moving from a sole trader or one person band to hiring staff –

what business owners need to consider

There are a few things to ponder when you’re considering employing your first staff member.

Think about whether you’ve generated enough cash to cover their monthly salary. This critical monthly expenditure is unavoidable so you cannot make the mistake of employing somebody and offering them a salary before you know you can 100% deliver.

Make sure you have the demand and enough existing inquiries to warrant an additional overhead – that’s the only way you’ll counteract the extra expenditure. If you’re thinking of hiring somebody because you’re a little stressed but don’t actually have enough work to keep them busy, consider a short term contractor to help through the busy or stressful period.

If you think you’re ready to hire your first employee it is essential to spend time thinking about what your new member of staff will do on a weekly basis. You need to have a clear idea of the tasks you’ll be expecting them to complete to ensure you keep them motivated, challenged and engaged.

Then there is finding the right team member for your small business. Taking into consideration these aspects, you will find the right person in no time.

• Advertising wording,

Be clear about what you want. Know the characteristics that you’re looking for and detail that in the job requirements. Understand the difference between what you want and what the job really needs. 

Choose a great headline to get your reader’s attention. Once you’ve created a headline that will capture attention, you will have to get your prospects interested in what you are offering. One rule of thumb often used is “what’s in it for me?”.

• Interview techniques,

Prepare for the interview. The interviewer should be as prepared as the interviewee. Have questions ready to ask to capture a portrait of who the person is. Don’t ask boring, mundane questions. Ask probing questions, such as, Why would I not hire you?

Look for non-verbal cues. The ability to read a candidate’s body language can be a valuable employer interview technique. Bear in mind that a job interview can be a nerve-wracking experience, and an element of fidgeting, nervous laughter or rapid speech can be quite natural.

If possible invent one or more tests for the applicant as part of the process that tests the skills they will use at work. For instance if they will be answering customer inquiries write up a customer scenario and ask the applicant to write a reply. Some people interview very well but are not so good at the task they are meant to do.

• And the stuff no one tells you about,

Check out candidates’ social media profiles. By going to candidates’ social media pages, you may gain a sense of their worthiness in terms of timeliness and dependability.

Remember that your candidate is searching for the right fit too. You are an ambassador for your company. Be ready to make a glowing impression. Explain why working for your company is such a buzz. Get your candidate excited. Thank them for their time. You don’t know who else is waiting to snap up the potential prodigy sat in front of you.

Always, always check references. Ask them direct questions about anything you might be concerned about from the interview.

 

I publish additional information over on my Facebook page and also on my LinkedIn – so make sure you are “following” me on Facebook and connected with me on LinkedIn. Instructions on how to do this are in last month’s newsletter, here.

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Business owners need a break as well.

Your business is only as good as you are. If you don’t let yourself relax once in a while, you’re not doing what’s best for your bottom line. 

Here are some benefits to taking a well deserved break,

• Distance creates perspective
• Enjoy quality time with your friends or family
• Use your time away to consider the direction of your business
• Look after your mental health and wellbeing
• Avoid a burnout
• Reset Your Work/Life Balance
• Empower Your Employees to Take Charge

And remember WiFi exists everywhere! There are few places left in the world where there is no Wifi, if there is an emergency, you will be reachable. Let’s schedule in those breaks and get your business and your mind in the right frame of mind for growth and development.

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Did you know?

Some small businesses still don’t have a website?

Given how much business is done online—but more importantly, how often consumers search for local business services online—it’s surprising so many businesses don’t have websites, especially given how important websites are to customers.

Customers use tools such as Google, Firefox and Internet Explorer to find product info, opening hours and location. If this isn’t available, small businesses are losing a lot of online customer foot traffic.

Your website serves as the “home base” where you can send customers when they want to make a purchase or learn more about a particular product or service you offer. Through well planned design and layout of your website, you can encourage trust, and help establish your brand. A well designed website can become a revenue driver.

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