Hiring the right candidate for the job isn’t as hard as you think. Follow these simple tips to save yourself valuable time and money in the hiring and training process.
1) DEFINE THE DUTIES
To the key to finding the right candidate for a job is to first first determine what you want them to do. Be Honest. Carefully consider all direct and associated responsibilities and incorporate them into a written job description. Think beyond common sense as we all know that sense is NOT common. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy but it is a key part of your communication. Be careful with general titles such as groom or barn help, as they have different meanings to different people.
2) AND WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THEM…
Fulfilling these responsibilities will require some level of skill and experience, even if it is an entry-level position. Be reasonable about your expectations. Setting the bar too high may limit your available talent pool; setting it too low risks a flood of applications from those unqualified for the job. Go for quality over quantity.
3) MAKE IT WORTH THEIR WHILE
You have to make a job attractive to a job seeker. the good ones are in high demand, we all know that so it’s up to you to make it worth their while.
I’m not just talking cash here – consider the other valuable benefits that you may offer such as insurance, coaching or instruction, the ability to ride/exercise horses, boarding, accommodation etc.. Likewise, you don’t want to be overly generous or restrictive about compensation. Scanning descriptions of comparable jobs on www.HorseJobs.ca will also provide clues about prevailing wage rates in your area.
4) SPREAD THE WORD
How you advertise your job opening depends on who you want to attract. Some positions are as easy to promote as posting a “help wanted” sign in your store window or placing an ad in your local tackshop. For jobs requiring more specialized skills, consider a targeted channel such as www.HorseJobs.ca which is a great way to reach out to passive job seekers who are not openly looking for work. Don’t overlook sources such as friends, neighbors, suppliers, customers and present employees.
5) COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Because you have clearly defined the role and requirements, you should have little difficulty identifying candidates for interviews. Make sure you schedule them when you have ample time to review the resume, prepare your questions in advance and give the candidate your undivided attention. After the interview, jot down any impressions or key points while they’re still fresh in your mind. This will be a valuable reference when it’s time to make a decision.
6) FOLLOW UP ON INTERVIEWS
You want to believe your candidates are being honest, but never assume. Contact references to make sure you’re getting the facts or to clear up any uncertainties. Professional background checks are a wise investment for highly sensitivepositions such as booking keeping, account management or those that involve handling the instruction of minors (children’s riding camp etc). Pre-employment screening and back ground can be arranged by contacting us at www.HorseJobs.ca to ensure that the proper consent forms have been signed and most results are back within 24-48 hours.
7) NOW YOU HAVE FOUND ‘EM. KEEP ‘EM
Now that you’ve hired ideal employees, make sure they stay with you by providing training and professional development opportunities. Don’t fall into that old school of thought that “If I train ‘em, they’ll leave me for the competition and take my training with them”. Money is NOT the reason people leave for another job - the best employee retention is usually due to simple communication and respect. SO start as you mean to go on… a job description is a great starting point and listen to what it is that motivates the candidate at the interview stage – if you know what their goals and ambitions are at the beginning then perhaps you can be of great service to one another, now AND in the future.
We are here to help you – contact me at info@horsejobs.ca or 1-877-881-5627 if you need any help with writing or posting your job ad. www.HorseJobs.ca can also provide screening and preliminary interview services to you in order to save you valuable time at a critical stage of the hiring process.
