How to recruit the right employee for your business

Recruiting employees involves considerable investment in time and money, so it's important to base your decision on a variety of factors. You'll need to identify your requirements and also be aware of your legal obligations. This guide will show you how to recruit the right employee in three steps.

• Assess your requirements
• How to find staff
• Legal obligations

Assess your requirements

You need to be quite specific when you advertise a vacancy. It should not only focus on duties you think the employee should perform now, but should also include any future requirements, in line with how you see your business growing. Establish which skills and qualifications are essential to the job and which are desirable.

• Be very specific when drawing up an advertisement
• Focus on the skills that are important now and those that might be necessary as your business expands
• Make a list of the need-to-have skills and those which would be nice-to-have

How to find staff

You can advertise in national, regional, local or trade press and there are also internet job sites, some of which are tailored to niche industries. Using an agency can save you time but ensure you agree all fees upfront, including any advertising costs. Brief the agency as fully as possible.

• If you choose to advertise in the press, assess who reads the publication and see if they match your target candidate
• Internet sites can reach a wider audience as well as niche ones
• Your advertisement should be concise and attractively designed

Legal obligations

It's essential not to discriminate when recruiting employees as you can face an industrial or fair employment tribunal from someone who is not an employee, if they believe they weren't selected as a result of discriminatory practices. It is unlawful to discriminate on several grounds, including sex, marital status, race and age.

• Try and avoid using words such as 'young' in your advertising or specifying years of experience
• State the job requirements clearly on advertising material
• Keep up to date with relevant legislation

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