Recruiting an employee - Step 1: Be prepared and know the basics

6 minute read

Recruiting the right employee for your business can take time and diligence. the ultimate aim for any business that wants to grow its workforce is to recruit employees effectively.

Here are the steps and the tips you need to recruit the right employee:

Recruiting an employee - Be prepared and know the basics – Step 1

Stand back and take a look at your business - where it's come from and where it's going - and plan your staffing needs.
Pinpoint the key tasks of a job, and the personal qualities such as skills and knowledge essential for the post, and make these clear when you advertise the vacancy.
Advertise through at least two different channels - the many choices include job websites, social media, the local newspaper and the Jobcentre - so you do not end up with candidates from too narrow an audience.
Choosing candidates for interview, and the interviews themselves should be done by more than one person if possible to avoid unintended bias.
Offer the going rate for the job in your business sector.

Working out if you really need to hire someone

Plan ahead to anticipate future staffing needs. How long-term is the post likely to be? Is your workflow seasonal or fairly constant?
Think about the way work is organised in your business. For example, could flexible working, such as staggered hours or overtime, help manage any peaks and troughs?
Look around the marketplace.
What are your competitors doing?
Can you recruit people with the right skills in your area?
Decide how much you will pay - but pay the going rate for the job if you want the best person.
Imagine the new employee starting work - will you have the time to train and coach them to become an effective employee?

Does your business case for taking on a new member of staff hold water? If so, give more thought to precisely who you want for the job.

For recruiting an employee step 2 click here

Source: © ACAS

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