Many business owners build their workforce the hard way – by trial and error as they act in response to an immediate and urgent need for staff.
As your business grows you need to think strategically about your existing and future staff – the individual skills and goals they bring, and how they fit into your team over time.
Consider these factors as you plan for future growth of your workforce: they all impact on the quality and capabilities of your workforce in the future.
In small business, your people really are your greatest asset, and as the old saying goes, good people really are hard to find. Or are they?
With a bit of prudent planning, a great personal attitude that makes you a pleasure to work with, and encouraging working conditions, finding the right people for your business should not necessarily be a headache or a drain on your time and resources.
If you need to employ someone, consider what you want the employee to do and what skills you require. Also consider the employment conditions, level of pay and other costs of employment, including the physical accommodation of the worker.
Prepare a job description that defines the responsibilities and functions of a job. This will help you identify the knowledge, experience and skills required for the job.
When you advertise a job remember that, by law, you must not use discriminatory language that may exclude potential employees on the basis of race, age, sex, marital status, family status or responsibility, pregnancy, religious and political beliefs, disability, gender history or sexual orientation.
Your recruitment process will run more smoothly if you know how to:
Finding the right mix of staff may take time. To ensure you have a strong, supportive team, consider all your employment options thoroughly, including the use of local services such as employment supply agencies, contractors, apprenticeship programs, personal contacts and your established business networks.
Remember, aim to prepare ahead for your long-term employment needs rather than simply reacting as an immediate need arises.
