Finding employees

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     Finding the right new employee to hire can be frustrating. Most of the frustration is your own.

     All of us know that good employees are hard to find. This is understandable. Good employees already have jobs. To get them to work for you means hiring them away from some other business. Or training them to do what you want done.

     Today, social media is available to find that person you are looking for. But, first, you must decide just what that new employee will be doing for you. 

     It's one thing to look for a certified massage therapist to add to your wellness center staff. That is a narrowly defined and targeted addition.

     But it's quite another thing to look for that special person who can help you grow your hair salon or your law practice or your printing operation.

     Example: Jeanie is a chiropractor who has built her practice into a wellness center. The massage therapist who saw clients at the wellness center has decided to move away, leaving an opening in the center's staffing. Jeanie put the word out for a certified massage therapist and interviewed several candidates. One of the therapists was a good fit, and Jeanie made the decision. Quick, easy, and done.

     Example: William had a private law practice and wanted a specialist in elder law to join him. Without committing to anyone, William began a quiet, under cover search of young, aggressive lawyers in his circle of friends and acquaintances. He was looking for someone who was eager, open to new challenges, compatible with himself and his plans. He found a likely prospect and proposed a relationship. It worked. Today, William is looking for his next partner. 

     Example: Amanda runs a small health food store. She is growing the operation with both walk-ins and website sales. The store is well-managed and staffed, but she needs to find another employee who can handle website sales and expand that end of the operation. She interviews several prospective people who have technology and computer backgrounds, but she felt they didn't know enough about either health foods or marketing to be able to do the job. Amanda looked around. One of her store employees had great knowledge of the store's stock but little knowledge of computers and social media. But she was energetic, eager to learn, and handled all her assignments quickly and professionally. Amanda proposed training her in website sales, social media, and follow-up. The employee eagerly took the job, and Amanda went looking for an in-store clerk to replace her.

     Sometimes, the answer to your problem is right under your nose. Finding new employees can be as easy as thinking through the problem.

     You always want to hire someone who shows up on time, knows the language, has a good attitude, and gets along well with others. The rest you can teach them. 

     Putting an ad in the newspaper or on social media might be the answer for big companies. But a small business is a different sort of animal.