Soar to Success June 2015

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Hiring
Your First
Employee
By Tina Imperial, Marketing Manager, Rainmakers
Business is going so well it’s time to hire your
first employee – a good indication of your
company’s health. Hurray you! While your first
hire is a milestone event worthy of fist pumps
all around, it can be a mixed blessing as it takes
time and resources to find the right person. As
you make the transition from business owner
to boss, consider the following as you embark
on the hiring process:
Set the Tone for a Great Interview
Interviewing by its very nature is a contrived
process. It doesn’t feel natural to the interviewer
or to the candidate, and can result in an
awkward interaction. The key to a productive
interview is to create an environment that
is conducive to conversation. According to
Rainmakers member Gerilyn Davis from
HSConsulting + Staff Agency, “It’s important
to create a welcoming interview environment
where the potential employee can be honest and
convey their true talents and value. Too many
times potential employees aren’t comfortable
in conveying who they really are, and it’s
because of the interview setting. A welcoming
environment will help the potential employer
discover if the candidate is a good fit.”
Hire a Business Ambassador
You want someone who not only fills the desired
role, but is as excited and motivated about the
business as you are. Director of Client Services
at Titus and Rainmakers member Jeff Boucher
advises “not to underestimate the value of
finding someone who will fit into the culture
you’re creating.”
But what about finding someone who can
do the job? On pairing culture with talent,
Boucher says, “When we search for talent, we
look for three things: Are they qualified? Are
they interested? Do they fit the culture? Find
potential candidates who will buy into your
vision and become relentless ambassadors for
the business.” He also recommends finding
candidates that are comfortable in wearing
different hats as you may need help in other
areas of your new business.
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SOAR TO SUCCESS | JULY 2015 | Core Business Strategies