If you want to become a successful CEO, you will have a lot of critical decisions to make. One of the most important decisions you will make is who to hire. There is a saying that it is hard to find good help these days, and you need to do everything you can to keep your employees once you find them. If you want to put your business in the best position possible to be successful, you need to learn how to hire properly. It might be helpful to take a look at what other successful CEOs, such as Patrick James of Trico Group, have to say. What are some of the most important tips you should keep in mind when you are looking for talented employees?
Don’t Overlook the References
A lot of companies glaze over the references. They think that as long as someone has references, they must have done a good job at some point in the past. This is where you can set yourself apart. It is important for you to pay close attention to the references. How detailed are the references? If there are a lot of specific examples, this is a sign that the reference knows the person as well. Where are the references coming from? If you are not familiar with that person or that company, you might want to pick up the phone and call them. Make sure you do a reference check. Verify that the references are real and that they are positive.
Consider the Credentials Next To the Experience
Even though you might have a set of credentials you are looking for, you need to put them next to the experience. There are some situations where credentials are critical. For example, if you are hiring a lawyer, you probably want someone who has passed the bar. Otherwise, they cannot practice law in that state. On the other hand, experience is just as important. What other jobs have that person had in the past? What did they learn in those jobs? How can those skills benefit your company? Make sure you consider the credentials next to the experience.
Get Input from Those in the Trenches
Even though you will be the person who is ultimately responsible for making decisions regarding who gets hired, you need to get input from individuals in the trenches as well. After all, those are the people who are going to be working next to each other every day. You need to develop a strong company culture, and you want your employees to get along. Therefore, consider having some of your current employees participate in the interview process. Then, see what they think about that specific person. If your employees like the person, you may want to move them off the list. Furthermore, if your employees feel like they play a role in who gets higher, they will be more likely to stick around moving forward.
Hire the Right Employees for the Job
It can be challenging to find the right employees for an open position, but you need to take your time when doing so. You want your most talented employees to stick around, but you will have a difficult time getting people to stick around if you do not hire the right people in the first place. Think carefully about where the reference is come from, and make sure to solicit input from other people at the company. Your employees are going to be responsible for your company culture, so you need to make sure you hire the right people for the job.
