As a business owner, one of the most frustrating things we have to go through is the hiring of a new employee. As your business expands you will need more people to help you out.
The first question is, “what job needs to be filled or created?”
You have to know what the new person’s job descriptionis.
The second question is, “Where do I fly the help wanted ad?”
In the local paper, on Craig’s List, on our web site or by word of mouth (there are always more places to list). Wherever you decide to list, make sure you are precise in your wants and needs for the position (see first question). People will start to send in their resumes and you can start the interviewing process. This is where the frustration can start.
Side note 1: for those of you sending in resumes please please please make sure your info is up to date. There is nothing worse than getting an incredible resume and finding out that the email or phone number is no longer valid.
Here is a small list of people who apply for a given job:
The Awesome Candidate (on paper): This is the person who has all the qualifications you are looking for. By all rights they are the perfect employee, except for the above side note. I guess they are not so great after all if they miss such a glaring mistake.
The Awesome Candidate 2: This person seems to have a very high opinion of themselves and it shows. This would be somewhat pardonable except that most of the information they are trying so desperately to impress you with is wrong. I do not appreciate the old adage, “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance then baffle them with bullshit”. Just be yourself.
The No-Show: They don’t make the interview and they don’t call. Why did they even apply for the job? Did they just want to see if they could get an interview?
Side Note 2: If you have an interview scheduled, show up just a few minutes early. Believe it or not, for a small company, this can make a big impression.
The Downer: This person has been beaten by life. They come in with a negative attitude, because they aren’t going to get hired anyways, and they seem to be trying to suck the life out of the room. Maybe they are.
The Over/Under Dressed: It’s hard to tell someone not to come in, overdressed, for an interview. Personally I like the person to be anywhere from business casual to clean jeans and a Polo shirt. A suit and tie are not a strike against them, however if you are applying for a “Cellar Rat” position you are a tad bit overdressed. Please do not come into the interview wearing torn clothing and looking like you just crawled out from under a truck. I am no longer 20 and I do not find this look very professional or appealing (yes I’m old, but I have the job you supposedly want).
The Eager Beaver: (We are located in Corvallis after all) This person may not have all the qualifications we are looking for but they exude enthusiasm. They are honest in what they know and don’t know but they are willing to work hard and learn. They have an energy about them, dare I say vivacity, that you can almost see and definitely feel. I love these applicants. These are the people who really want to work and are ready to go the extra mile to get it done. They want to learn many different things and try their hands at everything you will let them. In my opinion, the “Eager Beaver” is the perfect employee. They will grow with the company and be rewarded in the long run.
The Fake Eager Beaver: This person seems to have the goods you want and they are ready to work, that is, until you actually hire them. Then they are slow, often late to work and complain, to anyone who will listen, about how hard they are worked. I bust my butt every day and I expect someone who works for me to work too. I don’t expect them to put in the long hours I do (it’s our business after all) but I do expect them to put in an honest day’s work.
I am sure there are more types that I haven’t thought about but you get the idea and I am sure there is someone out there blogging about the types of bosses in the work place. We can only do our best.
Cheers!