Hiring Tips

The Importance of “Team” Players

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:15:09 +0000

In addition to providing you with “hiring tips,” we mentioned that we’ll also provide some tips to help improve staff performance. Here is another tip in that line. All too often we observe people handling situations in life with a “me first” attitude: “What’s in it for me?” “How will I be benefited by this?” [...]

Discuss the Purpose of the Company

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:41:28 +0000

Do you have a clean statement of your company's purpose? If not, take some time and put that together. Here are a couple of examples.

How Much Does Appearance Matter?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:47:12 +0000

When you walk into a room to interview a new applicant, what is the first thing you notice? Almost always, it’s the person’s appearance, right? If the person is very well-dressed and well-groomed, that makes a very good impression, right? Of course. Let’s look at a couple of examples with Steve and Mary. Now I [...]

Looking Can Be Senior to Listening

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:47:55 +0000

"Looking" can be senior to "listening" in your hiring interview.

What Do You Do When They Beg For the Job?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:48:44 +0000

Did you ever have someone apply for a job and practically beg you to come through for them? If the person isn’t qualified for the position, then the decision is usually pretty straightforward. But what if you’ve gone through a group of applicants and you’ve whittled it down to two people? Both have very similar [...]

How Flexible Are They?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:54:51 +0000

When considering a new hire, examine how flexible the applicant is.

Hiring and the Law – What About Pre-Screening Questions?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:14:25 +0000

When hiring, what kind of "pre-screening" questions may I ask?

How Good Are Their Problem Solving Skills?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:55:37 +0000

There are other types of problem-solving that we're interested in. Here are a few examples you could discuss with your applicant.

How Does Your Applicant Define Success?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 01:11:28 +0000

How your applicant defines success could be a real eye-opener for you.

Part-Time Versus Full-Time

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 05:55:15 +0000

Why you might consider a part-time hire over full-time.

Hiring and the Law – Can I Ask About Pregnancy?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 10:40:25 +0000

I’m hiring for a job that will require extensive training to get the new hire up to speed and have gotten burned when a new hire did not disclose she was pregnant. Can I ask the female applicants if they are pregnant, when I can’t have them go on maternity leave within their first year of hire?

Your Existing Staff Can Help

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:56:04 +0000

If you have key staff whose opinion you value, here's how they can help you make hiring decisions.

Describing What You Need and Want

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:45:58 +0000

In this tip, let's discuss how you can clearly communicate to your applicants what you need and want.

Wording of Hiring Ads

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:56:29 +0000

How you word an ad should help filter the type of person who sends in a résumé or calls asking for an interview.

What If Their College Credentials Are “Impeccable”?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:05:56 +0000

Most folks know that a great college education isn't by itself an overpowering reason to hire someone. But sometimes we get a bit swept away by this part of an applicant's resume. A great education can certainly be a plus, but don't let it cloud your judgment. Focus on hiring people that are going to positive contributors in your workplace.

How Did They Handle Conflicts?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:20:44 +0000

Sometimes employees have to deal with a particular type of conflict that can come up in the workplace: The customer believes he is entitled to something but company policy does not permit it.

Do They Have An Entrepreneurial Spirit?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:58:16 +0000

Then there are business owners who like working with people who stretch the envelope.

Ask VERY Specific Questions

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:35:49 +0000

Asking prospective employees VERY specific questions can be very helpful.

Who Do They Think Is Successful?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:58:43 +0000

Asking prospective employees who they find successful or admire can often provide superb insights.

How Does Your Applicant View the Future?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:38:20 +0000

Finding out how your applicant views the future with your company can help you make a hiring decision.

How Would They Feel About Being Paid Too Much?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:00:36 +0000

Here's an interesting scenario to help you gain an insight into your prospective employee.

Hiring and the Law – Do I Need an Employment Contract?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:12:33 +0000

When hiring a new employee, is an employment contract necessary?

How Important is YOUR Willingness?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:42:35 +0000

What does YOUR willingness have to do with the hiring process?

How Important is Willingness?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:10:00 +0000

How important is the willingness of the applicant?

Are They Willing to Go the Distance?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:43:06 +0000

How much does the person want the company to succeed and how far will they go to make that happen?

Should You Hire a Friend of Yours?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:36:26 +0000

What are the possible pitfalls of hiring a friend or family member?

Hiring and the Law – Hiring People With Disabilities

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 01:08:30 +0000

When someone has a disability, you need to treat that applicant like any other.

Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:48:19 +0000

We'll discuss some promises you may not want to make.

Do They Have a Sense of Humor?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:01:40 +0000

Is a sense of humor a key trait for your prospective employee?

Interview, Interview, Interview

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:00:32 +0000

Just how much interviewing should you do?

Hiring People Just Like You?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:00:03 +0000

We'll discuss the pros and cons of hiring people just like you.

Hiring and the Law – Do I Pay For a “Working Interview”?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 02:14:25 +0000

I'm looking to hire a receptionist and have selected a likely candidate. A colleague suggested I do a "working interview" with him. That sounded like a good idea. Do I have to pay him for "working"?

How Prepared Are They For the Interview?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 05:40:50 +0000

When people apply for a job, the amount of preparation they do ahead of time ranges from none whatsoever to an enormous amount of preparation. You might find it helpful to learn what someone does to prepare for that interview with you. For instance, have you ever been to a major bookstore and looked over [...]

An Ethical Workplace Attracts Ethical Staff

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 05:40:27 +0000

This next tip may come across as a bit mystical to some, but let’s see what you think. if your current workplace operates at a high ethics level, you will be more likely to attract new staff who also have a very strong sense of ethics. Exploring this a bit, have you ever entered a [...]

Be Inclusive Right From the Start

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 05:39:42 +0000

I read an article in Inc. Magazine that discussed how some companies are helping new staff when they first come on board. One involved a moving company in Massachusetts. This company started a program for new recruits where they raced up and down a thousand steps at Harvard University’s stadium. Afterwards the owner gave an [...]

What Do They Read?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 05:38:07 +0000

I like the idea of discussing a wide range of subjects with prospective employees. With that in mind, one question you could ask is simply: “What do you read?” Be prepared for all kinds of answers to this question. A few may even ask, “What do you mean?” “Well, Bob, I’m curious what you read. [...]

How Important is Work Ethic?

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 05:37:14 +0000

I looked up “work ethic” in the dictionary. I wanted to see if there was something new to learn about these two words that go so well together. And what I found was a real delight: “a belief in the moral value and importance of work” Wow! That’s an outstanding definition: A belief in the [...]

Blame It On the Economy and Watch Your Profits Sink

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:07:32 +0000

When we launched the Hiring Tips Blog, I mentioned that I’d provide some other types of tips from time-to-time. This particular business tip has received a tremendous amount of positive feedback, so I’d like to make it available to you here. It makes good sense to pay attention to economic indicators. But a weakening economy [...]

Hiring and the Law – More On What Questions You Can Ask

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:45:53 +0000

If I only can ask job applicants “business related questions,” how can I ask them questions aimed at getting to know them better, such as what books they like to read or what they do in their spare time?

“Not My Responsibility!”

standubin@employeetestingcenter.com (Stan Dubin) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:01:19 +0000

[As mentioned, in addition to providing you with "hiring tips," we'll also provide tips on the subject of staff performance.] Every so often, I like to spend an hour or so at my local Barnes and Nobles or Borders bookstore. I can be seen enjoying a mocha or caramel Frappucino while typing away at my [...]