Hiring new talent takes time and skill. Do you have a plan to find the right person for the job? Your process should guide you to hiring someone who not just fills the job, but who will be a positive addition to your team long-term.

Start by defining the job and how it supports your business Vision.  Make a list of the responsibilities and expectations of the position, and be sure to include what made others in this job successful. This will give you a template for interview questions as well as for attracting the best qualified candidates. Consider that there may be someone already on your team who is perfectly suited for this position and would welcome the opportunity to grow.  You may be better off finding a replacement for that job, and you’d have the perfect person to help train the new hire.

Part of your plan should include the interview process. Initially you may want to do a video interview. I like to bring all the candidates in as a group to see how they interact with each other. You may also include those from the team they’d be working with to get input from a different perspective.

Key to your interview is assessing both hard and soft skills. Hard skills are measurable abilities like degrees, certifications, proficiency with equipment, and sales closed. More difficult to convey on a resume are soft skills, which include analytical skill, moral compass, confidence, empathy and good energy. Ask questions that will draw out how they handled different situations using their soft skills, such as: “How did you prevent or overcome a significant obstacle?” (Strategic thinking, initiative, decision making, common sense) or “Tell us about your boss” (communication, preferred management style, cooperation). Brainstorm with your team to craft questions that will help you determine who is the best fit for the job, your culture and your Vision.

Do not skip the important step of checking references. Remember that any insight you can gather on the candidate will help you make the right choice. Speak with previous bosses and co-workers. Check their social media. Do a background check. If you neglect to make these steps part of your hiring plan, you risk disrupting your team and wasting valuable time as you repeat the search process. If you take the time to create a thoughtful hiring plan, you will find someone who shares your values and is an asset to your business.
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