THERE are not many managers who enjoy the expensive process of hiring new employees. Employers dread hiring, because they need to spend money to advertise the position and valuable production time is lost seeking and training candidates. With everyone’s eyes on the bottom line, it is important to choose the right person for the job, to avoid repeating the process a few months later. Here are a few tips.{{more}}

Seek referrals: One of the best ways to find great employees is through referrals from current employees, colleagues and friends. Hiring managers feel comfortable with referrals because they are hiring someone with a known track record of performance. When considering referrals, bear in mind that the potential candidate still must meet the qualifications for the job, regardless of who refers them. A referral is not a guarantee of a job; it only opens the door to be considered for the position.

Examine resumés carefully: A resumé is basically the potential employee on paper. If you are interviewing for a job that requires the candidate to be especially good with details, then pay very close attention to the resumé. Is it written in proper English? Are there obvious grammatical errors and is it clean? Although this may sound trivial, if your job requires a detail-oriented person, the resumé is a good place to judge the candidate’s abilities. Look carefully at the responsibilities and positions the person held in previous jobs and how they directly relate to your needs.

Conduct in-depth interviews: When conducting interviews, be mindful of the candidate’s appearance, body language, arrival time and their ability to hold a sensible conversation. If the available position is in customer service, all the above are crucial, as this person will represent the company to the public and first impressions last forever. Consider administering a personality test and ask situational questions to better understand the candidate and how they would respond if they were on the job.

Check references: Take the extra step and call the references that were provided. Ask questions specific to the position you are trying to fill and do not settle for empty answers like “John was a great worker when he was here.”

Karen Hinds is an international author, speaker and consultant and president of Karen Hinds Seminars. Send comments and suggestions to Karen@KarenHindsSeminars.com

Karen Hinds is “The Workplace Success Expert.”