Working with a good recruiter goes a long way toward finding the best talent for your company. They’ll help you establish what your needs are, offer advice on how to attract candidates, and walk you through the hiring process.
When it comes time to choose the right candidate, however, there are things that you can do as an employer that might not be so obvious. Here are the top 10 things every employer should do for new hires:
Run a Background Check of The Employee
You really don’t know much about your new hire until you run a background check. So many people think that they are applying for jobs working with the public or handling money, so running a background check is not needed. However, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ 2008 report on state and local law enforcement, there were 19 million arrests made in 2008 alone. That’s one arrest every minute.
A background check will help you establish if your new hire has made it past the interview process cleanly by providing you with criminal records, credit reports, and any other information that might give you a reason to be suspicious. It’ll also give you an idea about whether or not they are currently employed elsewhere. Maybe they were fired from their previous place of employment for stealing or lying.
However, an employee could have been terminated for reasons other than dishonesty or misconduct. You may not find out the truth about what happened until you run a background check. Make sure you know everything there is to know about your new hire before making any assumptions – good or bad.
Give Them a Personalized Orientation
Many new hires are eager to get started at their new jobs. They’ve done all of the paperwork and met with their supervisors. Now they just want to dive in and start working! However, orientation can be one of the most beneficial aspects of hiring when it comes to retention, so take time out of your schedule to orient your new hire.
Be sure to inform them about the benefits of working for your company, so they know how valuable their role is. They should also receive a personalized orientation that includes contact information for key staff members and any other people who will be helping them transition into their position.
Be Vigilant about Their Work Performance
You wouldn’t hire a doctor or lawyer without checking their license and credentials, so why would you hire anyone if you aren’t going to monitor their work closely? If your new hire was successful in the interview process and passed all of your pre-employment background checks, then chances are they’ll do just fine on the job. However, that doesn’t mean you should kick back and let them run the show without any supervision at all.
Be vigilant about checking your new hire’s work performance. Keep a close eye on their attitude and how they interact with other employees. Don’t take anything for granted when it comes to a new hire.
Avoid Any Preexisting Rivalry
Even if your new hire is not working for you directly, but instead works on the same team, be sure to avoid any preexisting rivalries. If your company already has divisions in place, then maybe this isn’t an issue. However, just because everyone likes each other now doesn’t mean that it’ll always be that way.
You don’t want to end up with two employees who are competing against each other for your attention. There’s nothing worse than working closely with someone you view as an enemy – instead of a colleague.
Encourage Them to Work Independently at First
One of the most important things an employer can do is encourage their new hire to work independently for the first little bit. This will allow them to create their processes and grow accustomed to the way things are done around the office without feeling like they’re getting special treatment because you hired them.
It may take some time before your new hire feels comfortable enough to ask questions about how something is done, but in the meantime, make sure they are working independently. Let them know that their input is always welcome, but for the first few weeks on the job, allow them to figure things out on their own.
Offer Them Advancement Opportunities
There are many reasons employees decide they want to work somewhere else – whether it’s the lack of career opportunities or a better salary at another company. With that being said, your new hire should always feel like they have a chance to advance and grasp opportunities for growth and success.
Be sure to let them know about the company plans for their future and how you expect everyone in your company – not just certain individuals – will be allowed to grow and succeed. If there’s no room for advancement within your company, then maybe you should reconsider hiring that individual.
Establish a Positive Work Environment
Your new hire is going to be spending a lot of time around their co-workers and supervisors during the first few weeks on the job. As an employer, it’s important to take into consideration that even though this isn’t their “real” job, they are still learning about your company.
Don’t put them in an environment where there is constant drama or clashing of opinions amongst the staff. It’s important to set up a positive work environment that will allow everyone to coexist peacefully and feel like they belong on the team. Maintaining a cohesive work environment is especially important.
Let Them Know What You Expect
No one is ever going to know exactly what you expect of them unless you tell them. Make it clear that the success of your company depends on their productivity and performance. They need to know that they are not just expected to do their job, but rather exceed expectations even if you don’t always praise them for it.
Let Them Know You Trust Their Judgment
In any working environment, employees need to have a level of independence and feel that they can do what they need to do without being constantly supervised. Let your new hire know that you trust their judgment enough to let them make decisions on their own as much as possible right from the start. This will allow them to feel more comfortable around you and other co-workers in the office.
Take Care of Employee Engagement Right from the Start
Employee engagement is a huge part of a successful business – especially when it comes to retaining long-term employees because those are the ones who become leaders in your company who can help guide others through difficulties. When you’re hiring new individuals, it’s important to take care of employee engagement from day one.
Take the time to have one-on-one meetings with your new hire and ensure that they understand what being a part of your team is all about. This will help them feel more a part of something bigger than themselves right off the bat. Teach them how to embrace the company culture and encourage everyone on your team – even those who have been there for years – to do the same. Hiring new employees is not an easy task but going above and beyond as far as making sure they work independently, are offered opportunities for advancement, know exactly what you expect from them, trust their judgment, and finally engage them in ways that make them feel included from day one is the best way to ensure they stay on your side.
The Bottom Line
Hiring new employees should be taken seriously by employers big and small. It’s not something that should be done quickly or hastily, but rather with careful planning to ensure success.
Employees are one of the most crucial components of every business – without any workers, there would be no company at all! By following these ten tips, you can hire the perfect employee that will have a positive impact on your work environment and help your business grow.