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Finding the right person

Finding the right person takes time and effort, hiring an unsuitable person wastes your time and theirs, so it is important to identify the job description exactly: what tasks the employee will need to perform, relevant qualifications and personal attributes and attitudes.

Writing a job description/advert
How to find the right person

Writing a job description/advert

A job description should sell the position and opportunities, but also encourage self-selection by applicants to prevent unsuitable candidates.

It should include:

What is the position?
Core responsibilities
What experience is essential and what is desirable/ useful.
What equipment will the applicant be expected to use, will there be training?
Personal attributes/ qualities
Hours - are lunch hours/ breaks included.
Holidays
Salary
Any other bonuses/ incentives
Promotion opportunities
Supervisor of position

Good to include a short background about the company/ organisation, its ethos, size and scope. It helps the candidate decide if they are suitable.

How to find the right person

"Good help is hard to find". To find the best person you need to think about which of the methods below is most suitable in your situation.

Word of Mouth
Mention the vacancy to people in your local network. There is no cost involved in the publicity, but what if your best friend's nephew turns out to be a poor selection?

Job Centre
Free service, advice on employment/ training/ legal services. State how you want people to respond, e.g. CV/ covering letter, telephone.

Ads are mainly seen by active job seekers. People in work passively job seeking, do not tend to visit the Job Centre. The Job Centre does not tend to be selective in its referrals, sending you all the respondents.

Press Adverts
Can be expensive, but local papers are a major resource for active and passive job seekers with their large circulation guaranteeing a large number of responses.

Write a good, concise advert selling job opportunities and benefits.

Recruitment Agencies
Can have high fees (normally 10-20% of the salary of the person you hire), but this is offset by the advertising costs and your time saved in filtering responses.

Agencies can help you write the job description and pinpoint exactly what you're looking for. They can offer advice on whether it is realistic or acceptable, and do the initial work in filtering responses. Some agencies also have lists of suitable people who could start work immediately.

They select candidates by initial interviews and tests for you to interview a shortlist. They have extensive experience in interviewing.

You have avoided the time of writing and paying for the advert and sifting unsuitable responses.

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