4 Tips for Hiring Your Very 1st Employee

The time has come to hire your first employee. This is exciting news, as it means your business has grown enough that you need a second person to help you handle production, marketing, or distribution. Hiring an employee will give you twice the man hours to work and make your business more successful. As you prepare to set up job interviews with your employee prospects, here are some things to remember to make your first time hiring process as smooth as possible.

Legal Paperwork

Don't put off getting your legal paperwork in order. When you do hire your employee, you will want your paperwork ready to go so everything is covered from his or her starting date. Draw up an employee contract outlining terms and expectations so that both you and your new employee are protected legally in case it doesn't work out. You will also need to file with your local labor department, and have your new employee fill out a tax form. When tax season comes around, you'll want to have that information on hand to make filing hassle free. Hiring an employee means that if for someone your employee does get laid off, you'll want to have worker's compensation insurance to pay for their unemployment. You may also want to consider creating an employee handbook so your employee has a clear idea of what is expected from them.

Determine What You're Looking For

What do you need from your new employee? What skills and tasks do you want them involved with? Before you even start interviews, make a list of qualities and skills you'd like your new employee to have. When you do post your your job opening, include those skills on it. When it comes time for interviews, ask your candidates for a demonstration of their abilities. People can be charming and exaggerate their abilities. It's better to know ahead of time that the person who hired to help you can actually do what you need them to. Look for someone who doesn't need constant supervision, who is innovative and will make your job easier, not harder. 

Give Candidates a Fair Chance

You've built your business from the ground up, and the last thing you want to do is hand it over to someone that isn't qualified. Do make sure that your candidates are able to do the skills you require of them, but also look for someone who has potential to grow. A lot of experience doesn't necessarily equal innovation or imagination. Candidates who work for large business where their every task has been outlined for them may not be the best fit for a small business that's still growing and finding its way. Remember that your new employee will be taking a chance by working for a company that is new. Find someone who is willing to put in the work to help your company grow, but allow them the time to grow as well.

Network

Talk to your friends and contacts about your need for an employee. Word of mouth is a good way to find potential candidates. If a candidate is referred to you from a friend, you'll have a better idea of their skills and qualifications than if you hire blindly off of a job listing website. If your network doesn't bring any results, don't be discouraged; job sites are still a good way to find local employees, just ensure that you take the time to test their skills and get an idea of how you'll work together so you end up with an employee that complements your work style and needs.

Jane Adams is a passionate writer from London. She loves to write about marketing strategies and regional languages. Currently, she works for Localdig.