The life of a small business owner isn't one of solitude. In fact, those who try to go it alone will often find themselves crashing and burning. But entrepreneurs with a sound team around them, from co-workers to financial services, could end up succeeding.
And, this means hiring quality, high-performing employees to round out the roster. Even tiny firms with only a few staff members need the best, but finding them could feel more complicated than it needs to be. If this is the case, a little extra effort may be required to locate the perfect hires for any fledgling venture.
Most importantly, this aspect is crucial in today's day and age. With money tight and consumers as savvy as ever, small businesses need any advantage they can get. One poor hire could send a financial plan way off track, so to be safe, here are a few tips and tricks to make sure the best candidates are considered.
Interview with these traits in mind
Every person has a number of qualities that can be beneficial to a small business, but there are a few that stand out from the rest. Alan Hall, contributor to Forbes, wrote that these specific qualities are what any entrepreneur should attempt to find during their next job interview.
For starters, they have to be competent, Hall explained. Above all else, every worker must have the skills to perform the job, the experience to do it well and the knowledge to rise to the challenge. If they are lacking this, odds are, their performance will leave something to be desired and they won't be able to meet the demands of the profession. Better yet, a new employee will also be able to go above and beyond. If there is a particularly difficult assignment, it would be fantastic if they could get creative, find a solution and put in more effort than the minimum.
In addition to these traits, entrepreneurs should also look for potential hires that fit the culture of the company, according to Hall. Not every business is crafted from the same mold, so different people may be better suited for one over another. This is something to pay attention to during an interview – some candidates want different things, expect a unique atmosphere or disagree with leadership's values. If this appears to be the case, there is a good chance they'll be unhappy and disruptive at work.
Find people willing to work together
Not every job requires collaborative teamwork, but a lot of small businesses do, demanding a willingness to work together from their employees. While many potential hires may bring unique skill sets to the table, some qualities can be overlooked, assuming they can foster creativity in a team environment.
This is one of the positive attributes stressed by Ryan Caldbeck, founder of CircleUp, in an article for Entrepreneur magazine. He explained that team players are vital across the entire business, and without these people corporate culture and profits could struggle. The interests of the company have to come first, and that might not sit well with a number of selfish employees. Therefore, small business owners should ask about this during the next job interview. Ego-less staff members can be a boost to any financial plan.
Moreover, Caldbeck emphasized intelligence over experience. Not every candidate will bring years of knowledge to the table, but those with a preliminary background in the field and a willingness to learn often turn into the best employees. Everybody has to start somewhere. Both qualities are valuable, but younger workers can often be molded into the model employee the small business needs them to be.