To Hire or Not to Hire?

5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Entrepreneurs and small business owners are used to doing everything themselves. Success depends on everything being done, and done correctly, so the best way is to do it yourself. This may have been the best approach in the beginning, but at some point growth is going to lead to an inevitable question: How am I going to get all of this work done? The answer: hire someone. Just like starting the business, hiring requires data and planning if it’s going to work out. Here are 5 things you need to know before you post your ad:

1. How do you spend your time?

We know you’re busy, but what specifically are you busy with? How much time do you spend on the tasks you do? Find out exactly by writing down what you do in any given week, by category. Hint: it’s easiest in a spreadsheet, so you can sort and filter categories. Once you’ve identified everything, identify what you like doing the least, and what could be better done by someone else with specialised knowledge, such as bookkeeping.

2. How do you get things done?

Do you have set procedures for the task you’re delegating? How are your documents organized? This is the time to devote a few hours to those matters, as well as adding access to all necessary systems/accounts for the new person. A dedicated email account on your domain is a good idea, as is reviewing what’s on your cloud…just in case.

3. How much do you want to spend?

This is one of the key factors in making your decision. Depending on your needs, outsourcing may be the most efficient and cost-effective option for you. Upwork and Fiverr have large talent pools to draw from, and many businesses have forged long-lasting relationships with their freelancers. Hiring an in-house employee offers more control over the process and the work being delivered, and in some cases is best even though the cost is higher.

4. Who is best for this role?

In the interview, you’ll have the opportunity to review the candidate’s background, skills, and knowledge. The right questions asked here will save you headaches later on. Is the person that you’re talking to enthusiastic? Do they have answers for questions that you’ve asked, and made suggestions of their own? If it’s a freelancer, do they have the equipment necessary to do the job? Some good questions can be found here and here.

5. What are your expectations?

With the information you gathered earlier, you can define the hours of this role as well as the expectations. Making these completely clear will go a long way towards having a successful business relationship with your new hire.

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