Hiring the best employees means your business succeeds. Good hiring practices can also save you up to $50,000, the cost of finding, interviewing, training and equipping an employee.
It can be challenging to choose the most qualified candidates. Consider these practical tips to help you identify strong hires.
How to hire the best employees
- Capability
In addition to easy jobs, the best employees tackle hard tasks that require effort, creativity and perseverance. Evaluate a potential hire's willingness to learn, grow and take on additional responsibility as needed.
- Character
In addition to skills, your employees must have good character. They should be honest, truthful, selfless, a team player and respectful.
- Commitment
Employees do occasionally move on to other jobs and careers, but you don’t want to hire a chronic quitter. Examine a candidate's resume, job history and references for a pattern of commitment.
- Compatibility
Your business culture is an important part of your success since employees work harder and smarter when they get along with each other. Be sure a potential employee is compatible with your existing employees, supervisors and clients before you hire them.
- Compensation
When an employee receives the compensation they deserve, they feel appreciated and motivated to perform to the best of their ability. It's always a good idea to double check that an employee candidate is comfortable with the compensation before you send an official job offer.
- Competency
The best employees have the skills needed to do the job they're assigned. Check education and experiences, too, as you ensure your new hire is competent for the position and duties.
How to Evaluate Potential Employees
During the interview process, an employee can create a persona that gets your attention. You have to comb through their application carefully to ensure you know exactly what kind of employee you're getting.
First, read the cover letter. It gives you a good idea of the candidate's passion, past performance and future potential. For hiring guidance in insurance roles, consider resources like Hiring (Insurance) to understand role-specific expectations.
Next, get creative during the interview. Applicants can easily rehearse traditional questions and hide their true potential, leaving you without a real look at their capabilities. Creative questions like, "How did your first job prepare you for this position?" can help you see a candidate truthfully and discern how they will act when faced with an unexpected challenge.
Finally, talk to former associates including supervisors, co-workers and subordinates. Discover the truth about how the candidate performed their job, treated others and stepped up to the plate. For advice on spotting key characteristics in producers and sales roles, see Hiring Insurance Producers: 5 Critical Characteristics to Spot.
If you need personalized help reviewing coverage or staffing-related insurance needs, talk to an agent.
To build a better company, you must know how to hire the best employees. Use these tips during your next hiring event to reveal the employees who will best help your company succeed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check a candidate's commitment without being intrusive?
Review employment dates and reasons for leaving on the resume, and ask references about longevity and reliability in previous roles.
What are good interview questions to test problem-solving?
Ask for examples of a time they faced an unexpected challenge, what steps they took, and what they would do differently now.
How should I balance skills and cultural fit?
Prioritize core competencies for the role while using behavioral questions and situational scenarios to assess alignment with company values.
When is it appropriate to discuss compensation during hiring?
Discuss compensation before making an offer to ensure the candidate's expectations align with your budget and avoid wasted interviews.