As a business owner, you see your role and the purpose of your company very clearly, so it can be hard to understand why a new hire doesn’t “get it.”
- Isn’t all this common sense?
- Shouldn’t they have known to do it this way?
- Why don’t they get it?
The problem is that no one will see it the way you see it—even the very best employees and contractors.
YOU are the owner, so of course, it makes sense to you! Now you need to take that intuitive knowledge you have and make it understandable and teachable for new and prospective employees.
Clearly Define the Position
Do you know what you are looking for? Really?
- What are your expectations?
- What times and days are you looking for?
- What skills and education are required?
- What will the training schedule look like?
- Are there additional, non-monetary benefits?
- What are the day-to-day tasks associated with the position?
When crafting a job description, you need to take so much more into consideration than just a job title. “Front Desk Manager” can mean many things to many people, so it’s important that you clearly, and specifically define what you expect out of this role within the company.
Having trouble? Think through, or better yet go through, a day in the life of someone in this staff position. What would they have to do from the start of their shift to the end of it? Now write it down, flesh it out, and that is the start of your Job Description.
Once you have a clear picture of the job you are hiring for, you can then better craft your interview questions, too.
Clearly Define Personality Requirements
Yes, some people are better suited for certain jobs.
- Do you really want a ball of anger working the customer service desk after a holiday?
- Do you want an extremely shy introvert in charge of firing someone?
- Should you hire a cleaning crew that doesn’t care about attention to detail?
There is no such thing as a perfect employee, but you can certainly set a new hire up for success by putting them in a job that is suited to their personality. Knowing the job description (above) will help you truly define what type of person would be best suited to work in the position offered. Moreover, your final Job Description should reflect the particular day-to-day tasks, as well as the personality type desired.
Tip: I am a BIG believer in personal assessments. As a business owner, you need to know not only your staff but also yourself. Here are my top three favorite assessments:
Wait
Usually, when you are hiring, you are hiring right now, but avoid hiring just because you need someone in the position. I know this isn’t always possible, but quick hires are often short and painful hires, and the last thing you want is to have to start the hunt, interview, and hiring process all over again just a few weeks after you started it.
Stay true to your hiring goals and don’t be afraid to say “no” to a candidate when they don’t fit…even if they are available immediately. Good help is hard to find, but it’s also worth the wait.