Jean L. Serio

As an owner, building your business should not only include a business plan, set up, technical and marketing strategies, it should also include planning for hiring the right employees.

To do that, first decide whether employees are needed to work full or part-time. While some businesses, like fast food restaurants and other similar businesses, require many full timers and a handful of part-timers, you may decide your business has no need of regular or full-time employees. You may opt for a few on-call employees who work on specific projects; or whom you can call when the need arises.

Regardless - finding and hiring the right employees isn't always easy. For example, hiring for an entry level position is easy. However, hiring employees with experience unique to a specific business is harder. To find the best people for the jobs you have, and make hiring easier, first develop and clearly write a description for each job you have available, before even thinking about interviewing. And then look in places you're more likely to find the person who'll fit that, or those, jobs.

8 Ways To Locate Good Employees:

1) Hire through a "Temporary Employment Agency" - Many a good employee has been hired as a "temp" and eventually taken on full time. These individuals have been screened and tested, their references checked before they walk in your door. With a "temp" you have the opportunity to see how they work; view their communication skills; discover how they relate to customers; handle a variety of situations. If they don't work out, you simply call the agency for a replacement. "Temp" agencies bill you monthly. You pay the agency directly, they pay the employee. If you decide to hire a particular "temp" to work full-time for you, the agency charges you a fee. Which they'll discuss with you before you hire. Fees for "temps" vary from agency to agency.

2) Hire through an employment agency - While this can be expensive, agencies have done all the work for you. You call one who specializes in the type of employee you need, and give them what amounts to an order. They check their listings and call you back with info on one, or several, who best fit your needs. You give them a time when you can interview; they set up the appointments for you; and call you back with the schedule. As with temp agencies, all individuals referred to you have been pre-screened and tested, resumes thoroughly reviewed. While references have also been checked, it's always best to do your own reference and/or background check. Fees for hiring vary greatly. Some agencies charge a percentage of the hired individual's annual salary, others take a flat fee.

3) Vocation and Technical Schools, Community Colleges, Colleges and Universities - Most technical school and colleges have placement bureaus. Once you call with the pertinent job info, they post the opening where interested students can view it. Plus they also review their files for a student who fits your job requirements. They contact qualified students, have the student come in and chat with them for a simple screening. However, unlike professional agencies, they do not check references or do background checks. You'll need to do that. Remember, you won't always get the experience and skill level you require, but this type of individual can usually be trained; even hired full time when they graduate.

4) Trade and Business Association Mentoring Groups - Trade and business associations often have mentoring groups. While they'll refer any individual fitting your job description directly to you, and you'll set up the interview and check background and references, in cases like this you'll usually get an individual who is well-referred, with some training and skills. There are usually no fees for hiring; perhaps a donation of time, or cash, to their mentoring program.

5) State Employment Division - In the U.S., you can call or visit what most people commonly think of as the Unemployment Division. While the Employment Division also does handle filing for unemployment, they also have a section which handles hiring. It's best to visit, rather than call them.

Go prepared with your business card, your state and federal I.D. (which you must have to hire) Have a well written job description and any other documentation which helps describe the position.

Working with the State Employment Division is partly self-service, where you check out computer listings, choosing individuals who meet your needs. You then check with the individual who handles those people, letting them know who you'd like to interview. (This may vary from state to state.) There are no fees for hiring. And you're usually required to set up your own interviews, check out resume info and references; to do a background check. Still - you will have a plethora of job candidates to choose from.

6) Entrepreneurial Groups - These groups mentor, and often financially sponsor, students for specific careers. Again, there is usually no fee for hiring. These groups may also ask for a program donation. Interview scheduling is usually set up through the group.

7) Independent Contractors - Instead of hiring someone permanently, you hire for a specific amount of time, to do a specific job. You negotiate, up front, the fee they'll be paid, since they are paid on a "per-job" basis. In looking for this type of individual, it's best to get referrals from other established business owners - especially if this individual will have an actual key to open your business, or if you're an online business - and they'll possess passwords to your private accounts. These individuals are responsible for paying their own taxes, and usually receive no employee benefits. Often you can simply call them when a project comes up.

Every business is unique in it's needs. Plus, many small businesses, especially those just starting up, hope to save money hiring independent contractors to work on projects they don't enjoy or don't have time for. In fact, it's a common occurance. And though it is a common occurance, rules in the U.S., regarding hiring "sub or independent contractors" are unique and murkey at best. An accountant will keep you "legal", and advise you accordingly.

8) Set up your own In-House Training Program - The available position you have may be unique to your particular business. Finding someone with the necessary skills and experience nearly impossible. Again, develop a well-written job description as a guide. Then ask around for referrals and/or place a sign up on your site.

Many a good employee has also been hired through running classified ads in the local papers. However - remember - these individuals come to you right off the street, with no recommendations. Before you hire them, thoroughly check out their resume, references and background.

I've successfully used all 8 of these strategies; plus run classified ads too, over the years. Whichever strategy you use, simply depends on the experience and skill level you'll need for the job available. If you expect the individual hired to take off to a running start, you'll need someone with the necesary background and skills. However, often you can hire someone to start out part-time and work into the position. Also, always check out the resume, references and background of anyone who's referred to you.

When you take the time to look into the background and experience of someone, before you hire them, not only will you get the right person you need for the job, you'll save yourself a lot of worry and hastle in the future.

Jean L. Serio, Copyright 2007. Are you one of the 1.2 million women tired of working the 9-5 grind, sick of worrying about making ends meet? As you know, starting your own business still remains one of the best strategies for providing you financial freedom. Discover how to start a business, today, with your own step-by-step Action Plan. Plus to ensure you receive all the details FREE, and learn how you can harness the power and resources you need to start, first sign up for your Free Newsletter "Start Up A Business Today" and receive your Bonus Report "5 Mistakes Women Make Starting Up a Biz". Go to www.womensmarketingandbusinessnetwork.com "We help you make it happen!"