A Checklist for Staffing Up
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Free PDF Download How to Read a Book in Ten Minutes a Day - By Heather Villa |
A Checklist for Staffing Up
When you are considering the possibility of hiring staff – whether that staff includes a virtual assistant, an onsite assistant, freelance consultant, or an entire office of staff – you want to make the right decision as quickly as possible and get the role filled. After all, every passing day without a person in the empty role will cost you money and time! Print and use this article as a checklist to review resumes and to make sure that you cover these points during your interview.
Experience
This should be one of the main considerations when looking at a potential candidate. You need to determine how much experience he or she has working at the tasks you want them to do. It doesn't mean that they must have performed the exact role, but they should at least have experience in the tasks you need done. For example, a branch manager who is applying for the job of marketing manager might still be well qualified, just because they did marketing while a branch manager. Insist on and check references. Be sure that the experience listed matches what you are seeking.
Integrity
This trait is particularly important if your employee will be dealing with confidential information. Again, reference checks are invaluable and a background check should be considered when client confidentiality is important. Integrity can be a difficult quality to measure so you might have to rely on instinct a little.
Professionalism
This is always important in the business world. If your employee will be dealing with clients via the phone or email, it is imperative that they are able to conduct themselves in a professional manner. How do they conduct themselves on the phone? Do they have a pleasant speaking voice and use proper grammar? A thorough interview as well as a writing assessment can help you make this determination. And seriously consider doing this same assessment for all employees, not just front-office employees, because these people might answer phones in a pinch or they may end up becoming managers when your business grows further.
Initiative
This is huge, but it's often missed. In my opinion, it's the second-most-important quality after integrity. A person with initiative may not always do a perfect job, but they're also not going to sit around and wait. They will be assertive, proactive, and a self-starter. Watch for candidates who seem to think “outside the box” and resist hiring employees who seem to be timid and who need a lot of guidance. You don't want to spend your time micro-managing people or cleaning up after their messes! You will want to ask how they handle obstacles or difficulties in completing a task and how they manage their time when working from home.
These qualities are imperative in every staff member you hire, whether virtual assistant, freelancer, or employee. Use this article as a "checklist" to ensure that they possess these qualities before you hire them.
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Free PDF Download How to Read a Book in Ten Minutes a Day - By Heather Villa |
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About the Author: Heather Villa RSS for Heather's articles - Visit Heather's website Heather Villa, CEO, CMA, MBA, MSM - Heather Villa helps businesses excel. Heather delivers compelling insight to her business clients, which is drawn from her education and experience. As a perennial student of business, she has achieved numerous degrees and certifications including a B.A. in Business Administration (with a minor in International Business), a Masters in Business Administration, a Masters of Science in Management, a Certified Management Accountant designation, and an Intuit QuickBooks™ Certified Pro Advisor certification. As a business expert, she has founded several successful companies including her own consulting firm as well as the accounting firm IAC Professionals. In the capacity of business consultant or accountant she serves clients across numerous industries and in several countries around the world and is an in-demand coach in the area of productivity, implementation, and social media. She is a sought-after start-up guru with ideas and connections that turn concepts into reality. Understanding and empowering business growth is Heather's ultimate goal so it's no surprise that her educational and business accomplishments help to drive her clients' success. Click here to visit Heather's website. How to Read a Book in Ten Minutes a Day The Value of Outsourcing How Much Does A Small Business Owner Make How to Develop Organizational Culture in an EBusiness Truth in Numbers |
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