5 recommendations for when you're under-staffed

Hiring is a necessary aspect of business, but it is by far one of the most difficult to get right. No matter what you try, some new employees succeed while others fail. And just when you think you've figured out the formula, everything changes. So how do you know that you've made the best recruiting decision?

Here are five tips to help you choose wisely and hire right the first time.

Start with a good job description

Finding the right candidate starts long before you receive the first resumes. It is important that you effectively communicate the job to prospective employees from the start. When crafting an ad, don't focus solely on the job duties and expectations. Instead, let someone know why they want to work with your company.

Ask your staff to help

You already have a great resource for finding and hiring new candidates, so tap into that. Ask your team for their referrals or recommendations. When you're interviewing outside candidates, ask your staff to help with the interview process since they will be working closely with the new employee. Ask them for their honest opinions.

Build your company's reputation

You also want to ensure that potential employees are excited about working for you rather than your competition. Be a part of your local community. Create positive word-of-mouth buzz about your company. Manage your social media and messaging.

Don't wait until your need is urgent

It is also critical that you don't wait until you have an urgent need to begin the hiring process. This leads to rushed decisions and bad hires. Instead, constantly be on the lookout for new talent or people who would fit into your company culture. Build relationships, not a resume database.

Focus on onboarding

Finally, your responsibility as a hiring manager doesn't end when the new employee is on your payroll. Those first few days and weeks can make or break a new hire situation. Don't just train them on their job — help them understand the corporate culture and company values as well.

Recruitment is not a one-time event but an ongoing process for you and your company. If you want help setting up a long-term recruitment process, check out our free New York State Employee Onboarding Kit.

If you're hiring an employee, or think you might be soon, check out our comprehensive resource page, Employee Onboarding - A Complete Guide. This is a handy, tightly-packaged outline that presents all the critical hiring and onboarding elements in simple, chronological order.