Top 5 things I look for in hiring an employee:
It can be stressful hiring for a new staff member. Especially, if you are small business owner and you have a million other things to do. However, knowing what traits you are looking for in a person, will help you understand who it is you want to work with. Many times when I talk to other hiring managers, they mention mostly skill sets and most say someone who comes to work on time, everyday. Yes, that is true. However, I am digging deeper here. WHO I am looking for, that would fit me, and our corporate culture? With 15 years of management experience, I figured out who would best fit me and the companies needs.
Serious mindset to work: When I hire people, I want people who want to work. It may sound goofy, like why wouldn’t someone want to work? Serious mindset also means someone who enjoys serving the customers and community. What we do impacts people so much, such as, helping them get a job that can take care of themselves and/or their family. That is a big deal.
Compassionate: Different staff we hire are working directly and indirectly with the consumers. People come to us because they need help looking for a job or need an interpreter for their court case or doctor visit. There can be a lot of stress in a lawsuit or seeking medical care. If you aren’t compassionate helping others and working with others, you will not do a good job. You may just do an “okay” job. I had my windows installed at my home and the contractor did an “okay” job. I probably will not refer clients to them.
Reliable: Being a small business owner, I don’t have time to look over the shoulder of another person. When we have work to do, I just trust that my staff will do what they need to do. In looking in my past jobs, I excelled more in jobs that I was not micromanaged.
Enjoys working with people: Working with people most of the time is pretty good and most people are nice. However, it isn’t always that way because there are different types of personalities out there. Sometimes customers can be rude and mean. If you don’t like working with people, you just won’t survive in the service industry.
Positive: There are some days that everything just isn’t going right! Staff that think positively makes the day better. Helps me and everyone else to keep chugging along. I really don’t have time to babysit and sooth people who whine. We all go through hardships in our lives, and I will be here for you. However, I am talking about the all the time negative folks here.
Because we hire for different positions, I didn’t include skills set. However, that would be a common thing for every hiring manager to consider. What I have above here is what I look for in someone because I will be working along side this person everyday. Knowing who you want to work with, is one of the things that can reduce employee turnover.
Britney Xiong, President of Western Bilingual Services
