Recruitment and Interviewing

1. Who Do You Need?

Before you start looking for a new employee, be sure you have answered four key questions.

1.1 Do you need to recruit?

• Do you have the time and ability to do the work yourself?
• Would you be better off using an outside contractor, eg a maintenance company?
• Is the work that needs doing temporary? If so, should you bring in a temp?

1.2 What does the job involve?

• What major responsibilities does it carry with it?
• What parts of the job are routine and what are occasional tasks?
• What equipment has to be used?
• Who will the new person work with?

1.3 What kind of person do you need?

Think hard about what you are looking for.

• What is essential and what is desirable? For a small business, practical skills and experience are often more valuable than formal qualifications. You need people with the right attitude - reliable, flexible and willing to learn.
• Which skills can you teach, and which skills must candidates have already?
• How much experience is required? In a start-up business, you need to recruit people who will become productive as soon as possible.
• Basic qualifications are a rough guide to people's ability, interests and the standard of work you can expect from them.
• What kind of personality does the job require?

1.4 How much are you prepared to spend?

• You will have to pay the cost of recruiting the employee.
• Once you take someone on, you will pay a salary and other continuing costs. These will include employer's National Insurance, any pension contributions you make and any other perks you provide.
• How will your offer compare with other employers? Will the value of the salary package be high enough to attract the right candidates?