Business

Thinking of hiring? Here's what you should consider

Emma Rose of Britain (L) and Nils Westerlund of Sweden work in the office of the HowDo, a "how-to-do-it-yourself" app,  start-up at the Wostel co-working space in Berlin March 18, 2013. Europe must urgently tackle youth unemployment, the French, German and Italian governments said May 28, 2013, urging action to rescue an entire generation who fear they will not find jobs. Some 7.5 million Europeans aged 15-24 are neither in employment nor in education or training, according to EU data. Youth unemployment in the EU stood at 23.6 percent in January, more than twice as high as the adult rate. Picture taken March 18, 2013.   REUTERS/Thomas Peter (GERMANY - Tags: BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT) - RTX103SC

You should adhere to these rules when hiring for your startup. Image: REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Tom Gimbel
CEO, LaSalle Network

When I started LaSalle Network in 1998, we had three employees and 1,500 square feet of office space. We wanted to expand, but we knew that any new hires had to fit the culture like a glove. The smaller your company is, the more important it is to genuinely like who you hire. Personality in a small environment is just as important as hard skills.

Now, 18 years later, with four offices nationwide and nearly 200 employees, we’re still calculated in our hiring, but our approach has evolved with our needs and goals.

Though no two companies are the same, you should always remain focused on the nuances of your company and match the hiring to fit them. Here are some tips for doing just that:

Outline your goals

Ask yourself where you want to be in six months, one year, or even six years from now: Where do I want the company or my team to be? What are our goals, and can we realistically achieve them with the staff we have now? If the answer is no, then you might need to add talent.

Motivate current staff

What if the answer is maybe? The gray area is oftentimes where companies live. In those cases, think about whether you have anyone internally who’s ready to rise to the occasion. Why hire someone new over the rock star who’s been proving himself or herself and is going to get promoted eventually anyway? Consider the ramifications. Hiring someone rather than promoting an employee who has worked hard and proven themselves can demotivate not only the employee, but the entire team. Knowing when to hire is just as much about knowing when not to hire.

Always be interviewing

The right time to interview is before there’s a need.

Consistently bringing candidates in creates a pipeline of talent. It also helps you understand the market better: What are salary expectations? What skills do candidates have or are they lacking? Are there benefits packages that are more attractive? When it comes time to hire, you’ll be prepared to make a competitive offer to the best candidate.

Keep in mind that you won’t find all of the talent in your backyard. Find ways to expand your network. Go to trade shows in different cities. With a growing skills gap, it’s important to have a hand in as many jars as possible so you don’t strike out on talent.

I’m a big karma guy. In my experience, there’s a lot of reciprocity in the marketplace when it comes to hiring. If you’re good about giving advice and referrals, you’ll find it easier to pull candidates from a variety of pools when it’s your turn.

Implement trial periods

My first hire was the wrong hire. I kept that person on for too long when I should’ve just ripped the Band-Aid off because they weren’t right for the role. Trial periods ease the burden.

It’s easier to be upfront when there’s an agreement that both sides are taking a test drive. Instead of having only full-time roles, try selling positions as temp-to-perm. It tends to attract open-minded people who are willing to work hard to prove themselves. It allows the company and the candidate to feel each other out and be candid about what each side is gaining. And if they’re successful—congratulations! You just found your next all-star with minimal risk.

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