“She’s such a nice person.”- “He has been through a lot. He really needs a break.”
- “My friend’s kid is desperate for a job, I’m going to give him a shot.”
- “I can hire her for less money and train her to do additional duties.”
- “He didn’t interview well, but I’m sure I can train him.”
- “I can’t afford to hire the person I really need, so she will have to do.
If you are a business owner, you may have said one of these phrases. (or something similar) Each of these statements are justifiable, right? You are doing the right thing. You are impacting the unemployment rate by helping one more person to get off of unemployment benefits or maybe even welfare. Heck, you’re a hero! Or are you? As a small business owner there are many things that influence hiring patterns. First and foremost…. BUDGET. Your heartstrings may also have voting rights in the business. Most often, a lack of interviewing and hiring experience plays a major role in hiring mistakes. As a business owner myself, I have also been guilty; Sad to say since I am an employment professional. When I started my first business, a temporary staffing firm, I found some of the sweetest folks. They had no staffing experience, which wasn’t the primary problem. The problem was my motive for hiring them. I was a helper. I wanted to be the savior of their lives. One had been out of work for over a year, one was a single mom whose husband was incarcerated, and one was a very talented sales person who had some previous legal issues. I had secured Fortune 50o companies as clients and was extremely proficient at placing qualified candidates in jobs. I didn’t use the same level of qualification for my own office, however. I wanted to groom, mentor….help. Over time my staff grew and gained knowledge, but there was always something lacking. My business was growing, so I didn’t have the time needed to hand hold or re-train information over and over. There was something missing that I couldn’t teach. Proactivity, gumption, passion.
I won’t tell you that you should never hire a candidate without experience, or someone who is in a bad spot, but make sure that they are open to being trained and coached. You must be convinced that they will take the initiative to learn what they are lacking without you forcing their hand. At the end of my journey I found what was so eloquently spoken to me by a trusted friend, “You hired people you could help, but you didn’t hire people who could help you.” Even with a staff of four, I found myself still having to handle several tasks that my staff should have been able to learn.
Let my experience (as well as many of the clients I serve who made the same mistake) be a lesson for you. Hire for your needs and the growth of your company. Find someone with an insatiable passion for the work you do; with that level of passion you can teach the technical aspects. If you can’t find that person, get the most qualified, experienced person you can afford. If you want to give back, figure out a way to serve through a local non-profit.
Guest Writer-Tish Times
Tish Times is the Founder & CEO of HireTimes Career & Coaching Group – The HR Biz Coaching and Training Firm. Helping small companies to stay compliant, develop people, attract talent and make more money through HR consulting, training, and events. Please visit www.hiretimescg.com to receive her E-Zine.