5 Tips for Hiring Top-Notch Employees

Whether you're running a mom-and-pop store or an international corporation, your employees are the backbone of your business. But how do you ensure that you're only hiring the best? Here are a few tips for finding, recruiting and interviewing top-notch people.

1. Filter Your Resumes

Automated software can help you filter through resumes that don't contain important keywords like "bachelor's degree" or "restaurant experience." It'll be a lifesaver if you receive a lot of applicants for the same position, and it can also help you recognize the standouts from the pile. The resumes that contain a lot of your desired words and phrases are more likely to represent candidates that reflect your values.

2. Run Background Checks

This might sound obvious, but you'd be surprised by how many companies only run the most basic of background checks on their employees. You should be looking for more than just criminal activity. Dig for information that's both relevant to the job and applicable to your specific location: For example, if you live in Massachusetts, look at things like Massachusetts public records.

3. Schedule Multiple Interviews

Don't hire people right off the street. Don't hire them based on the strength of a single meeting. Use a multi-step interview process that only advances the highest candidates of each "round." You can start with something simple like a 10-20 minute phone interview to ensure that they're polite and personable; then you can advance to more formal sit-down interviews where you actually assess the person and their portfolio.

4. Check Their References

Let's say that you have an appealing candidate on your shortlist. Who was their last boss? Who managed them? Who gave them performance reviews? If the candidate didn't include this information in their resume, they might be lying about something. You might want to hunt down their former boss and give them a call. Be honest about your intentions; from one authority figure to another, you want to establish a connection that will result in honest communication.

5. Know What You're Looking For

Last but not least, it can help to have an ideal candidate in mind when you start recruiting. Do you want them to be smart, ambitious and hungry for success, or would you prefer them to be more friendly and laid-back? Do you need them to work well in groups or be okay on their own? There's no right or wrong answer here. It all depends on your particular company.

These are just a few things to keep in mind as you search for new employees. At the end of the day, however, the most important thing will be your own intuition. Trust your gut when it comes to hiring the people who will help your business succeed.