I am holding interviews next week for a contracted member of staff, part time for now. Has anyone got any learned wisdom from interviewing that they would be happy to pass on? What about choosing the right person - are you better leaning towards someone with lots of experience, or someone who you gel with more readily? (ideally both!). Being just me in the van I feel it's important to have someone I can communicate well with.
My good woman has drafted up contracts which, as an HR Officer, should be watertight, and will only need a few details from me to be suitable. I am sorted with the forms for IR and insurance, I guess there must be a list of other things to consider such as:
-full first aid kit in van
-emergency contact details somewhere convenient
-buying them PPE and uniform/boots
-methods of paying them - cheque, BACS ok for now? (not cash, I want a paper trail) Or do you need to set up something more formal?
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Well, I want to know their expectations, hours, etc, and make sure they understand how to work to very strict quality guidelines. I don't need someone who rushes, but someone who strikes a good balance between meticulous and efficient.
Must decide if they are fit enough to do the job, mature enough to appreciate the value of work and reliability and aware of the risks to the public and others around you while at work.
Well I'm not looking for someone with great technical expertise as I can teach them the way I work... I need someone with the right attitude really.
Maybe even better to have someone with limited experience as they won't have learned bad habits.
As you are looking for someone that you can train, 'Right attitude' is so important especially when working round customers houses. We are on display and being watched.
No mobile phoning or texting while working, only during tea/lunch breaks.
Check sickness record with previous employer - most important in a small business.
I'll think of some more later..........
Dan Frazer Gardening said:
Hi Dan, I had to do a lot of interviewing in my previous life. As you are happy to provide training I would say that the best piece of advice is to go with your gut. Every time I obeyed my gut feeling the person was right, every time I had a niggle and took them on anyway they were wrong.
Another thing that a MD of a very successful company once told me was that the worst mistake he made was persisting with the wrong person. If you are unlucky enough to get the wrong person through no fault of your own then as long as you've put the training in and given them the right guidance then cut your losses and dismiss if they don't work out. Your good lady obviously knows all the HR rights and wrongs of such things!
Good luck anyway :)
It's a bit like women then, you can't make the wrong one right, and the right one never gives you problems!
Dan Frazer Gardening said: