Cultivate a Nose for Talent

When first setting up a company, I believe that it is the

e t ep e eu s espo si ility to hi e the est people fo thei business. All too often, however, mistakes are made during the

hiring process, proving that talent-spotting is in itself a talent that

can be difficult to master.

Getting the right staff at an early stage is the best investment a

company can make. Getting it wrong can be costly both in terms of finance and time.

Re uit e t is ofte a usi esss greatest costso it is all the more important for entrepreneurs to maximise their return on staff investment.

Hi i g the o g pe so a , i a s all o pa y, ha e a egati e i pa t o the e ti e tea s productivity. Conversely, the right person can enha e the hole tea s oope atio a d ohesi e ess a d edu e e e yo es o kload, the e y i easi g p ofita ility.

With roles that directly deal with customers, it is crucial to employ the right person: they will be

a reflection of the entire business and customer service is the lifeblood to fledgling businesses.

This is even more important in this day and age with the use of social media and the internet.

Bad e ie s a sp ead like ildfi e a d dest oy a o pa ys eputatio i just 4 ha a te s.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate potential candidates, particularly in a world

where everyone seems to have a degree. Therefore, employers should look to determine

whether candidates will be able to quickly fit in with the company culture, which will in turn

maximise productivity and employee welfare. A person can have a fantastic degree and a great

CV, but if their attitude does not fit in with the company culture then they will not be a suitable

appointment.

What stage the business is at can influence the type of person that you should hire. In small

o pa ies, you ill ost likely e ui e ge e alists that ill get stu k i if eed e. I la ge organisations the role will be much more specific. Generalists need to be able to adapt and

react to the needs of the business quickly and efficiently; this is a skill that is not easily come by.

Ulti ately ithout good staff the usi ess ill ot u a d a o pa ys o kfo e a ofte e the greatest cost so investing time in the recruitment process is extremely beneficial for the

performance of the company. However, to get the right staff you need the right recruitment

strategy.

Here are my top five tips for entrepreneurs looking to recruit the right talent:

1. Trust your gut

2. Clearly identify what areas of the business are lacking and hire for them

3. It is better to wait for the right candidate than rushing into hiring someone who is less than

ideal

4. Put a little bit of time and effort into drawing up a good job description. As a result you will

attract better candidates

5. Willingness to learn is very important. It is better to invest in and educate people to get them

where they need to benobody will be completely perfect for the role.

Personally, I value a strong work ethic and creative ideas above all other attributes, so this is

what I look out for in potential candidates. It is really worthwhile thinking about what attributes

you value and which ones will add most value to your business. Often people with similar

beliefs to you, make the best employees.

Once you have employed great talent the real challenge beginsmaking sure that you retain them!