What are the key issues to consider when recruiting staff?
The recruitment process can be expensive and it is important to make sure that you employ the right person for the job. Good staff can literally transform weak organisations into strong, healthy and vibrant operations. Mistakes can lead to high turnover so it is important to take your time when making decisions. Get the recruitment process right and you virtually eliminate the risk of hiring the wrong person for the job and vice versa.
Remember, it can be beneficial to advertise jobs internally within your company as well as externally. This will give existing staff the opportunity to develop their careers and will create loyalty within the business.
Recruiting staff is another way of promoting your business. The process exposes your company to a wide section of the public. These people could be current or potential clients, customers or suppliers. Hence it is vital that the recruitment process creates a positive and professional image for your company. When setting up and running a business it is important to seek help and advice on your specific business situation from professional advisers at your local Enterprise Agency or Business Link.
How do you assess your staffing requirements?
Taking on a new member of staff can be costly when you consider the time and money spent on recruitment, the salary, training and other benefits your company may provide. Assess your staffing requirements carefully before recruiting.
- Do you need to bring a new skill to your business that none of your existing employees have, eg do you need someone to sort out your IT requirements? If this is just a short term rather than permanent requirement you would consider employing temporary staff or consultants.
- Has your workload increased? Is this going to continue, is it seasonal or due to a large one-off order? Do you need more staff or would you consider employing temporary staff?
- Are you replacing an employee who has left? Think about the reasons why the previous employee left and what skills and experience they brought to the job and what other skills may be required.
- Are there alternatives to taking on new staff by:
- improving efficiency;
- can work be distributed amongst your existing staff, eg part-time to full-time if you have staff looking to take on extra hours?
For further advice on staffing requirements contact your local Business Link or Enterprise Agency adviser.
What sorts of skills and experience are you looking for?
Firstly, you need to define the job and make a list of the skills and experience required to carry out the tasks associated with the job vacancy. It is important to be clear in your own mind about the vacant position and your ideal candidate in terms of knowledge and skills. This will help you to create the job advertisement, making sure it is concise and outlines all the essential skills and experience that you require.
A well defined job advertisement will help to ensure that only suitably qualified candidates apply for the vacant position. This will save time when determining a short list of candidates and prevent the need to re-advertise the position if no suitable candidates apply.
For further information consult Investors in People UK's recruitment and selection model www.iipuk.co.uk. Alternatively, if you are using your local Job Centre to advertise a vacancy, consultants are available to provide free advice and support.
Southampton Job Centre tel: 023 8053 8600 or visit the website: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk.
Are there any grants/incentives for employing someone?
It may be possible to obtain financial help if you intend to take on new employees.
- New Deal
If you have a suitable vacancy and sign up as a New Deal employer, you will be eligible for financial support for a limited amount of time. Contact your local Job Centre for further information, tel: 023 8053 8600 or visit the website: www.newdeal.gov.uk.
- Grants for job creation
Check with your local Enterprise Agency or Business Link adviser to see if there are any grants available to help with projects that encourage job creation.
What regulations are involved in employing someone?
Employing staff is a regulatory minefield and it is important to get help especially if you are employing staff for the first time. The penalties for getting it wrong can be quite severe. Areas to be aware of include:
- Equal opportunities
- Employee rights
- Pay and tax
- Working hours
- Eligibility to work in the UK
- Health and safety
Remember that employers must complete an OSRI form when they start employing people and again when they move to new premises. These are available from Environmental Health at Southampton City Council. There is also a guidance leaflet for small businesses on Health and Safety issues, tel: 023 8083 2323.
A confidential helpline offering free advice has been specifically created to help employers find out where they stand on equality legislation and good practice.