How do you recruit the best team?

You may be expanding and creating a new role or it might be that somebody has left and you want to replace them.

1. Start with the business needs. Even if you’re replacing an existing person it’s worth looking at what you will need in the future rather than what they were doing historically
2. Write out the job description with essential and desirable skills.
3. Look at your existing team. Is there anybody internally who can step up to that role? Internal promotions are a great motivator (but inviting new blood can keep the business fresh)
4. How many hours do you need? There is a tendency to bundle everything into a full time role but, if you can be flexible, you will have a bigger candidate market. At Hudson Business Accountants and Advisers we had a very high calibre of staff which I put down to offering part time work which suited many parents, experienced semi-retired people, or those starting their own business.
5. Where will they be based? The more flexibility you can give the more choice you will have. At Minerva Accountants we operate 100% remotely so we attract good people.
6. Do you want to use a recruitment agency? A good recruiter can save you a lot of time but there are many that don’t seem to add any value in the process and you may be better off putting an advert in the local paper and/or Indeed.com or similar.
7. Have a clear application process and a deadline.
8. I like to sort CVs into interview, unsuitable, and maybe. How well do they match your job description? As we are a small team it is important to have people who fit in well but I also want diversity of thought rather than people who will always agree with me even when I’m wrong.
9. I like to hold all my interviews on the same day as it is easier to remember candidates and to compare them. Prepare a list of questions in advance but start with some simple things to break the ice.
10. I make notes immediately after the interview.
11. When we had premises I would always ask my receptionist what she thought as it gave me a second opinion and a better idea of how the applicant would interact with team mates as well as with ‘the boss’.
12. I try to make an offer on the same day as the interviews so that we can move the process on quickly
13. Once they fortunate applicant has accepted the role I notify all those who haven’t been successful. It might take your time but it’s only good manners.