Hire the Right Person for You...first time

‘Not suggesting we recruit in our own image and likeness … but we must be a good match.’

It’s coming up to the wedding season again. Most people think of a day that will suit - best chance of good weather, not clashing with any big sporting event - that sort of thing… and then they work back from there.

Some will then mind map or write lots of lists to make sure they cover all the bases. And then the planning starts - the challenge of syncing the venue, reception, minister, flower arrangers and on it goes.

Sometimes this can be as far as two years in advance.

The saying: ‘Many people spend more time planning the wedding than they do planning the marriage’ is way too close to the truth.

Hiring a new team member will rarely be planned two years in advance, but it should be planned with (almost) as much care, and there are some fundamental questions to consider:

Does this person buy into your business vision?
Do they share your values?
Are there any deal breakers e.g. do they have the skills you need, will they be a good fit for your team? Do they share your work ethic and that of your team?

I’m not suggesting you recruit in your own image and likeness - you may be an ideas person needing to hire a details person for example, but you must be a good match.

Recruiting and training someone is a big outlay and you want to get it right first time.

Yes of course you’ll have a probation period, but you really don’t want to have to let someone go because you didn’t suss out up front that they didn’t share your values, or that they don’t have the right skills, and then pay to go through the whole process again.

Sometimes you have to hire in a hurry - maybe you’ve just won a big contract, or someone has left the team unexpectedly and you need to replace them.

My advice…DON’T.

Remember the phrase ‘act in haste, repent at leisure’? The world is full of businesses who have the ‘wrong’ employees - people with the wrong skills, the wrong values, the wrong attitude, for the business they are in.

Don’t ever hire in a hurry. 

Fill the gap by outsourcing, bring in temps, find an intern, and take your time to find the perfect match for YOU and your team.

The sort of person you’re looking for will:

• Share your values and be enthused by your vision
• Have shown elsewhere that they have the skills you need
• Be comfortable working alone, but happiest working as part of a team
• Be Customer focused
• Be passionate, energetic and creative.
• 
  

This means of course that you need to be very clear yourself about your vision and values or how will you ever spot a good match? How will you ever be able to share what makes you tick with your team?

Do one thing: Join us on March 31st 2016 at 11am (GMT) and learn How to Model McDonald's to Build a High Performing Team, in our online training session - Remove your People Pain

[ps Register HERE now]

For more information on how MPL can help you visit www.mariannepage.co.uk or contact me on hello@mariannepage.co.uk
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