How to Hire a Great Employee Instead of a Good Employee

by Terri Robinson (c)2000

With headlines like this "U.S. March Jobless Rate At Three-Decade Low" leaping from the page, it's no wonder that employerssometimes feel that the best employees are all taken!

Recruiting for an employee to fill your position can be a frustrating and time consuming process. From writing the ad, which has to beexciting and challenging to attract great people, to the actual interviews with likely candidates, your time is guaranteed to bestretched to the maximum for a period of time.

Here are 5 tips to help you hire a Great employee instead of a Good employee:

1. When you review a resume, look for length of time on the job: a candidate with several short-term employers (less than ayear) could mean a lack of commitment on their part.

2. Look for gaps in employment and ask for an explanation. Long periods out of work could signal a criminal background.

3. Watch the employment dates for "overlaps". This could be a simple error, but also might indicate that the candidate is not being truthfulabout previous employers. Ask the person to explain it, and be sure to call those employers and verify dates of employment with them.

4. Have a copy of the job description at hand when you review the resumes: The more skills that match your job description, the morelikely you will be to have a great match.

5. Sort your likely resumes into two "stacks" - one for those that look perfect to you, the other for those that look good. Call the perfectones on the phone and ask them why they want to work for your company. Pay attention to your instincts - if you need a Receptionist,it is important that the person has a pleasant phone voice, that they are enthusiastic and articulate. If they don't make you feel goodwhen you're speaking to them on the phone, they won't make a very good first impression on the customers who call your company.

While these tips aren't the whole picture in hiring a great employee, using them increases your chances that you will hire the perfectmatch for your company.

With the present restrictions on information that a previous employer is allowed to divulge, it is important to pay attention to allthe details the candidate gives you. It will make the difference between having a GREAT employee working for you, or just having aGOOD one.

********************************************
Terri Robinson, President - Robinson & Associates, a woman-owned recruiting company that specializes in sales and marketingprofessionals. Terri has been published in Arizona Women's News, Arizona Reporter Online News, and interviewed by Recruiting Trends'Newsletter for their Extreme Recruiting column. Surf to http://www.recruit2hire.com, call 602-233-8410, or E-mail Terri

Reprint permission freely given as long as contact information is used as is.