There is a lot of advice out there for small business owners on hiring best practices - but what are the things you shouldn't be doing? Knowing what mistakes to avoid when you start to hire for your small business could really help you out in the long run. If you're on the path to hiring, make sure you're offering jobs to the best candidates possible by steering clear of these hiring mistakes below.
Rushing through the process
We know - you needed the best possible candidate yesterday! Hiring can often be urgent, but it doesn't mean you should rush the process. Resist the temptation to hire the first person you like for the job. Give each candidate a fighting chance, and take time to assess and recollect your thoughts with your hiring team. You will find the perfect fit if you have patience and trust in the process.
Hiring for a favor
If you're just starting out as a business owner, there will inevitably be a host of people who want to help you on your way - which is great! However, at times, those favors are done with the hope that you can help them out in return. Referrals are a great way to get candidates in the door, but make sure you don't hire someone as a favor. Stick to your hiring process and give each candidate the same chance to impress you. Helping people out is a good idea in many cases, but make sure you are keeping your business top of mind while hiring.
Posting bad job descriptions
Job descriptions are crucial in the hiring game. If your job description is too vague or unenthusiastic, then you're going to attract similar candidates. Make sure you take the time to write detailed and descriptive job descriptions, and that you're honest about the position and what you want and expect from a candidate.
Forgetting to do a reference check
Reference checks are important for a variety of reasons, but so often they are overlooked by employers rushing the hiring process. Don't fall into this trap! Reference checks allow you to have an open conversation with past employers or colleagues that could provide important insight into a candidate you may hire. The last thing you want to do is to hire candidate who is not the best match for the job. Avoid that reality and get as much information about the candidate at hand by conducting thorough reference checks.
