How to Hire an Employee

How to Hire an EmployeeHow to Hire an EmployeeWhile you need to move swiftly to land top job candidates today, you cant be careless. Heres how to hire an employee in a highly competitive market for top talent.Figuring out how to hire an employee with just the right mix of skills and knowledge can sometimes feel like a daunting and high-stakes task. Bring aboard the wrong person and you (and your employer) waste valuable time and money. Given the costs of making a bad hire, your team is counting on you to find a great fit.Follow these six tips to attract and hire employees who bring maximum value to your team and company.1. Juice up the job descriptionGenerating interest from highly qualified job candidates is often one of the fruchtwein difficult aspects of the hiring process for a business. So when a position opens up, take the time to write a job description thats both detailed and compelling.While you dont want your job posting to be excessively long or so specific that it deters qualified candidates from applying, you do want to include enough information to attract job seekers who are well-suited for the position.If its a new role, carefully consider the tasks you want the employee to take on short term and long term, and the levels of education and experience your ideal candidate should possess.If youre filling a vacated role, take the opportunity to evaluate whether you want to make changes to the position. Chances are youll want to add or shift some responsibilities.2. Cast a wide netWhen youre ready to start recruiting candidates, cast your net deep and wide. Of course, you want to post the opening on your website and on job boards that cater to your companys industry. And you should also share the job ad on your companys social media accounts. But dont forget about the power of in-person networking to spread the news of your open position, whether youre attending a casual lunch, professional event or industry conference.You may also want to consider w orking with a specialized recruiter who has access to highly skilled candidates, including passive job seekers. Staffing agencies such as Robert Half can help you hire talented individuals with expertise in different areas - from technology to accounting - for a project, contract-to-hire or full-time basis.HIRING? WE CAN HELP3. Dont shortchange the resume reviewEvaluating resumes can be tedious and time consuming, but as the hiring manager, youre best able to decide if a candidates qualifications fit the bill. Look for resumes with keywords and phrases that match the job description. This shows that the candidate is focused on details and has experience that aligns with the job duties. Also, keep an eye out for resumes that highlight both technical and soft skills, and that include concrete ways the job seeker added value and helped meet company goals in previous roles.4. Conduct consistent interviewsDuring each interview, pay attention to whether the candidate is well prepared by testing their knowledge of your company and industry. Again, zero in on both technical know-how and interpersonal abilities. Your job is to not only find the most qualified person, but also build a well-functioning and cohesive team.While your conversations will naturally take different courses, be sure to ask all candidates the same questions to keep the playing field level. And dont forget to sell yourself and your company. After all, interviews are a two-way street.5. Determine the right salary rangeOffering an attractive salary package is a must given the competition to attract talent for many jobs today. According to a survey by our company, a majority of hiring managers polled (57 percent) say they are willing to negotiate salary with top candidates.The Robert Half Salary Guides can ensure your starting pay ranges are on par with, or better than, what other companies in your area are offering. You can also use our Salary Calculator to quickly and easily compute average starti ng salary ranges for various job titles in your city.GET THE SALARY GUIDE6. Act fast when you find the right candidateA survey by our company found that it takes five weeks, on average, to fill an open staff-level position. And filling an open management-level role takes an average of seven weeks. So once youve identified your top candidate, extend an offer quickly. Candidates with the right mix of skills frequently have multiple opportunities from which to choose.Expect the candidate to take a day or two to consider your offer, and plan for some back-and-forth negotiating. Finally, make it clear the job offer is contingent upon any reference or background checks you need to complete. Tags