For many entrepreneurs and first time small-business owners, the hiring process may seem like learning a foreign language. You started this project by yourself or with a small team, now you’ve grown it to the point where expansion isn’t just an option — it’s necessary. It’s something to take pride in, but then the woes of the hiring process threaten to take away every last semblance of pride you had in your hard work. Hiring doesn’t have to be hard. There are some simple rules and tips that successful business owners have been adhering to for years, and now it’s your turn to learn from their mistakes.

Hiring for Personality

You can’t teach someone to be personable. You can spend all day making your new recruits hit the books and brush up on their knowledge of every facet of your business, but it means nothing if nobody wants to be around them — especially potential clients. Hiring someone who you can tell has a good sense of humor is a gift you will thank yourself for later. While it’s important to make sure that they have some experience in the field, a candidate with a good head on their shoulders is a candidate who won’t let their temper flare if something goes awry.

Having Recruits on Reserve

You never know when an unexpected hurdle will plague your business, but you can save yourself the trouble by keeping a golden candidate in your back pocket for when a spot opens up. Having your most-promising candidates ready to jump into the game is one of the most important ways of preventing a loss of productivity when a major player in your company goes down.

While these are just a few examples, always make sure to keep your options open. You never know who’s going to walk through that door. Don’t let them slip away.

Article by
Wayne Goshkarian,
Senior Advisor

Wayne Goshkarian in front of his jet