If you’re ready to expand your business, it’s important to hire the right people who match your company culture. Employees in both small and large businesses rely heavily on teamwork and usually have to work together to get projects done. Cultural fit and soft skills are more important than most people realise.
How can you hire the best employees?
When expanding your business, you must analyse why you need to hire and what pain points a new team member will solve. You can figure this out by talking with current employees and understanding where they feel overwhelmed or overworked. Once you know which department needs extra help or where your business is lacking, it’s easier to decide what kind of hire you need.
As a business owner, it’s also essential to lay out the framework of your values and culture so you can be more focused on what you are looking for. Yet when you do, what traits and characteristics should you look for to find the best small business employees?
Find the right cultural fit
A candidate’s technical abilities are often evident from their experience in the job application. Still, during the interview, assessing their values and the soft skills they bring to the table is crucial to see if they’d mesh with your company culture. As you look for the right cultural fit, it’s recommended that you share information about the work environment, work style, and expectations to see how their preferences match yours. Try asking them how they handled a situation in the past that may be similar to one they might face at your company.
Evaluate if they can be a team player
Teamwork is vital in a corporate environment. As you interview, it’s important to see if the job candidate can demonstrate that they can work well with others. You can do this by asking them to explain their part in a previous team project, how they helped a team succeed, or how they handled conflicts or disagreements.
Check if they have done their research
Candidates who have researched your company beforehand are more likely to be invested in the role and potentially a better fit than those who show no prior research. Researching ahead of time shows initiative, determination, and passion for the position. Instead of showing up unprepared, they took the time to understand the company to the best of their abilities and figured out why they wanted to work there in the first place.
Pay attention to how they respond
When interviewing, you can gauge a potential employee’s interest depending on their questions. Are they using critical thinking skills and asking questions that are on a deeper level? Are they showing a genuine interest in the role and the company? Notice when they speak if they are optimistic or talking down about themselves and others. Candidates who demonstrate a genuine interest and are open to feedback are more likely to improve and be successful in the job.
Watch how they act
You can learn much about people by looking at their gestures and facial expressions. Those who stand with good posture and direct eye contact demonstrate confidence, and those who smile and nod show they are engaged. If they are comfortable and relaxed, it often shows they are being honest and authentic. Take note of how they interact with others during the interview because that will tell you how they tend to communicate with their peers and how confident they feel. Trust your instincts and consider how the candidate’s personality and communication style align with the role and your current team.
Look at them from a well-rounded perspective
It’s not just about a job candidate’s qualifications on paper – their insights during the interview and the energy they bring can be just as important. As you chat with them, it’s essential to look at them from a well-rounded perspective and see how their work ethic, problem-solving abilities, and overall level of competence all come together. Look to see if they have a learning attitude of always wanting to try new things. Even if they lack technical skills and experience, if they have the drive and determination to want to learn, there’s a high chance they can still be a valuable asset to the team.
Going through this process isn’t always linear or straightforward. But as you do, it’s essential to avoid mistakes. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t:
- Rush the hiring process – can lead to a mismatch
- Having a superficial assessment of candidates – can contribute to a higher turnover rate
- Take part in unconscious bias – can skew decision-making in subtle ways and limit diversity
- Lack of recruitment for small business strategy – can make the process more stressful with no clear outline
Bringing new faces onboard
If you think you’ve found the perfect hire, complete a reference check before offering them any official documentation to be a part of the company. This is where you reach out to their previous employer, make sure they are who they say they are, and see if there were any prior workplace mistakes. Once you’ve done this and made your decision, it’s then time to hand over the offer letter. If they accept, then you will have officially hired your new employee. Congrats!
How do you make sure people enjoy their new position?
To keep employees happy and healthy, there are a variety of ways you can support them, such as:
- Offer competitive compensation and benefits with industry standards
- Maintain a great company culture (promote inclusivity, diversity, and open communication so everyone feels needed, valued, and a part of the team)
- Invest in employee development through training, workshops, and clear career paths
- Recognise and reward contributions to acknowledge your employee’s hard work and achievements
- Offer flexible working hours to give a healthy work-life balance
- Conduct performance reviews and offer guidance to help employees reach their goals
- Encourage employees to provide you with feedback as a manager or boss as well
Take your next steps with Haven
With these tips, you can expand your team to the next level. You have all the tools in your toolbelt and know precisely what to look for during the hiring process. Whether your team is small or large, here at Haven Workspaces, we offer various flexible coworking options for your convenience. Find yourself in the heart of Canberra and reserve an office space or a group of desks for your ever-growing team today.
