What to Think About Before Taking on a New Member of Staff
In today’s challenging times, deciding on the right member of staff to help you grow your business can be difficult. The coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly changed the way we think about recruitment and our business strategies, and as a result, you’ll likely be more resistant to committing to a full-time member of staff. But if you do need an extra pair of hands, fear not: we’ve put together considerations to make before offering them the job.
Is now the right time to be recruiting?
First up, decide whether your business is in a strong financial position and be confident that you can sustain another full-time or part-time position. The last thing you want to do is take on an extra member of staff, only to have to let them go in three months’ time when the cash runs out. Sure, nothing is ever guaranteed, but you should only be advertising a vacancy if you are sure that the job will still be there in six months’ time; it’s bad PR if you hire and fire.
Are they definitely right for the role?
Once you’ve interviewed a few potential members of staff, decide whether they are definitely right for the role. It’s easy to see someone through rose-tinted glasses if you’re stressed and need an extra pair of hands there and then, but think long-term and be sure they have the characteristics you need in a member of staff. Do they align with your company values? Can they adapt their working style to accommodate your business? Do they have a good work ethic and attitude? Will they get along with members of the team? Answer these questions!
Would you be better off outsourcing?
Something else to take into consideration during these unprecedented times is the possibility of outsourcing. Though it’s wise to have as much talent in-house as you can, working with a company that offers facilities management services, for example, reduces your payroll burden and allows you to take advantage of highly-skilled and specialized members of staff. Outsourcing is also more advantageous during these uncertain economic times – if your firm is likely to be impacted by the upcoming recession, outsourcing will help weather the storm.
What skills do they bring to the table that you need?
Finally, make sure the candidate brings the skills you need to the table – and ask them about anything else that they could offer your business as a bonus. For example, if you’re hiring a new sales manager, they might also have experience in running paid advertisements which could introduce your business to new leads. This would be cheaper than paying an external company to manage your campaigns and utilize the talent you have in-house instead. The more skills the candidate has, and the more those skills can be utilized, the less likely you are to need to hire an additional member of staff or pay for services from other businesses.
Whatever you’re hiring for, we wish you the very best of luck. Check back soon for more advice on running a successful business as we continue to navigate these uncharted waters.