Hiring your first employee can be a challenging task for any business owner. While it marks an exciting milestone for your company, it can also be a daunting process if you’re unfamiliar with the recruitment and hiring process.
1. Here are the key things you need to know when hiring your first employee.
Before you start the recruitment process, it’s important to determine what kind of employee you need to hire. Identify the specific job duties, qualifications, and experience required for the role and more importantly, what they will do to fill their time during the day. Start with the jobs they will have daily, weekly and monthly, and then throw in some of the bigger projects to give them a challenge. This will help you create an accurate job description and job posting that will not only attract the right candidate, but also give them security in knowing that you have thought through their role and they have a future.2.
2. Develop a Recruitment Process
A well-structured recruitment process is crucial for hiring the right candidate. It helps to eliminate bias and ensure that all candidates are evaluated based on their skills and experience. Develop a recruitment process that includes the job advertisement, resume screening, phone and in-person interviews, and reference checks, and then be consistent with every employee to maintain fairness and remove emotion from your decisions.
3. Create an Employment Contract
Once you’ve found the right candidate, it’s important to create an employment contract that outlines the terms of employment. The contract should include the job description, compensation, benefits, work hours, and any other relevant information. This will ensure that both you and the employee have a clear understanding of the expectations and obligations of the role. Contracts should be in line with employment legislation, don’t be tempted to find one online to use as it is there to protect you.
4. Plan for Employee Onboarding
Employee onboarding is the process of integrating new hires into your organisation. It’s important to have a plan in place for the onboarding process to ensure a smooth transition for the new employee and to deliver on the ‘employee promise’; the perceived expectation set throughout the interview process. This includes introducing them to the company culture, providing an orientation to their new role, and training them on company policies and procedures, as well as how they should spend their time and undertake their tasks.
5. Understand the Basics of Employment Law
Employment law governs the relationship between employers and employees. It’s important to understand your obligations as an employer, including minimum wage requirements, working conditions, and anti-discrimination laws. Failure to comply with employment law can result in legal consequences, so it’s essential to be familiar with the regulations. There are many systems for small business for low investment that will cover the foundations of what you need.
Hiring your first employee is an exciting milestone for your business, and it’s important to approach the process with thought and intention. By understanding your hiring needs, developing a recruitment process, setting expectations and delivering on them, you can take out the uncertainty and create a positive start to your employer-employee relationship.
Whether you need to tweak or completely overhaul your people systems, we can help. Contact us today and let’s talk about the challenges you are facing in engaging and growing your team. It all starts with a Discovery Call – book online click here.
Christine Litera is the CEO and Founder of the Chrysallis Consulting Group. She is also the author of Grow Your People Grow Your Business: Big Corporate Secrets for Small Business Budgets