How to Recruit Rockstar Employees

Recruiting or hiring candidates for your business can be tedious and stressful-- How do you know where to look for candidates? What qualities should you look for in your ideal candidate? With an expansive job market and pool of individuals looking for jobs, there are tools you can use and qualities to look for when searching for your future employees.

 

With the growing popularity of social media, there has been an increase in social recruiting and resume platforms. Typically, there is a fee to use the full recruiting capabilities of a recruiting service. These platforms allow job seekers to put their resume online, search for jobs, and apply for open positions. On the opposite side, you can post open positions for your business, outline the qualifications needed for the role, and reach out to candidates about applying or interviewing for the position.

 

One of the easiest ways to find candidates is to ask for referrals. If you’re looking for a new shop mechanic, ask your customers if they know a mechanic in the area who could be a fit for the job. Referrals are a great way to find quality, local candidates from people you know and trust. Remember, the person you recruit for the open position doesn’t necessarily have to be looking for a new job.

 

Once you have a referral or a lead that you’re interested in, look for the following qualities:

• Job Stability: Has the person you’re interviewing had multiple jobs over a short span of time? Job stability is important as it shows a candidate can learn their position, acclimate to a team, and grow with a company. As a business owner, you don’t want to hire a mechanic or team lead, only to have to re-fill the position a few months later. This can become costly.

• Relevant Qualities & Experience: When asking for referrals or searching for candidates, look for people with relevant job experience or positions. Potential applicants who already are in your field can help your business, as they will be familiar with your industry and might pick up job training quickly. It is equally important to look for qualities relevant to the position you’re hiring for. An application can only tell you so much about a candidate. If it’s a leadership position, look for a candidate who can take initiative and has good interpersonal skills, as they will most likely be in charge of a team.

• Work Ethic: Does the position require a 40-hour work week with unusual work hours or the need to work weekends? A candidate’s work ethic can indicate if they will fit the needs of the position. A candidate who is used to working short shifts like 10-2 might have trouble adjusting to longer shifts like 8-4 or 11-7. 

And then it’s up to you to outline your hiring process. Find a hiring process that allows you to find the best candidate.  The goal is to find a hiring process that fits your business and finds the right candidate for the open position.

 

Interested in learning about open opportunities with Kimball Midwest?