HR Support: Hiring Made Easy For A Smoother Process

As your business grows, so does the complexity of managing humans. Having some HR support can ensure that you attract, hire, and retain the best talent without munching into your already busy working day. This post explores how I can help with the essential but time consuming aspects of the hiring process. From crafting job descriptions to seamlessly onboarding new hires, I provide comprehensive business support to help you build a strong, effective team.

The Job Description

It’s not rocket science but it takes time all the same. Creating a well-crafted job description is the first step. Now, whilst we’re not going back to the days when banal minimum wage jobs were given aspirational titles, the job description should clearly outline what you expect from your hire so you’re not surprised once you get bums on seats. Responsibilities, required skills, qualifications, experience are all crucial. The description should also include insight into your company culture and business overall. Ultimately we spend more time awake at work than most other places, this is your family… just one you get to choose!

I will

• Be clear and concise.
• Highlight essential and desirable skills. I’ve always been a fan of the saying “Hire the skills you don’t have, train the skills you do.”
• Outline any career progression. Often times in small businesses scope for career growth is limited especially if the hierarchy is flat. This isn’t a problem. There are just as many people who want a flat structure as those who want dizzying career goals. Small businesses whilst struggling to offer progression so often offer scope to increase skill sets exponentially due to the nature of team members having to wear many hats at once.
• Reflect your company’s values.

Attracting Candidates

When the job description is ready, I’ll help you create an ad. The goal? To catch the eye of the right candidates and encourage them to apply of course! I’ll ensure the advert is engaging, succinct and posted to the most suitable platforms.

I will

• Create a great headline
• Include all the best bits about working at your company.
• Post to the right places: LinkedIn, niche job boards, and industry-specific websites.
• Experiment with paid and organic options.

CV Shortlisting

Once the applications start coming in, I’ll screen CV’s and shortlist candidates. This is where HR support comes into it’s own. The job market is wild and it is not uncommon to have 100s of applications per role. Sorting through CVs to select the most fitting applicants is time consuming in itself. I’ll create clear criteria based on the job description, filter out unsuitable candidates and focus on those who are the best fit for your business.

I will

• Look for relevant experience and skills
• Keep an eye our for transferrable skills and cultural fit.
• Assuming availability on the platforms used, I’ll employ applicant tracking systems (ATS) to manage the leads.

Interviews

Initial interview is the first real interaction with candidates. You may want me to handle this part and save your time for second phase interviews. Either way, during this stage, I’ll determine whether they align well with your needs and the business. To prepare for this, I’ll draught a set of structured questions that cover both the technical and soft skills you’re looking for.

I will

• Focus on questions which gauge problem-solving abilities and attitude.
• Ask candidates about their past achievements.
• Evaluate their skills, enthusiasm and potential for your business.

Onboarding

Once you’ve selected the right candidate, a smooth onboarding process helps new hires feel welcome and confident in your business. Onboarding whilst crucial for setting the tone of their experience at your company, is also quite often overlooked in small businesses. A well-developed process helps new hires integrate into the team faster and with fewer challenges. I can help create and set this in motion.

I will

• Start onboarding by sending any legal paperwork prior to their first day.
• Provide a detailed introduction covering company policies, team introductions, and job expectations. (need help with company policies? Get in touch)
• Assign a mentor to help with their transition.
• Gather feedback after their first few weeks.

Conclusion

HR support is vital to your company’s success but not all small businesses have this support to hand and most remote HR companies cover just the legalities of HR rather than the practical stuff. By carefully creating job descriptions and job advertisements, reviewing CVs, conducting initial interviews, and providing a robust onboarding process, you can ensure that your business attracts and retains talent. Whether you are a growing startup or an established small business, I hope my virtual assistant HR services will help you build a strong, successful team.