At some point in your business, you are likely to find yourself hiring someone to help out. Even though I don’t have a brick and mortar store or a huge online empire, I work with a virtual assistant. It’s not the same thing as having an employee, but some of the qualities you look for in a great employee are considerations that apply no matter how you go about hiring someone or working with someone.
If you hope to hire a great employee who will be an integral part of your business, here are five things to look for:
1. Good Fit for Your Company
You want an employee who is a good fit for your company. Does it appear that your potential hire could work well in your culture? Today, millennials are looking for companies that align with their values. Look at your mission and do your best to hire people who have similar values, and who can fit into the culture and make an enthusiastic difference.
2. Work Ethic
The ability to work — and work hard — is a quality that can benefit your business when you hire employees who are eager to work. A great employee has a solid work ethic and isn’t afraid of trying to make a difference at your company. Look for people who work hard, and that can make up for talent.
3. Talent
Even though hard work can sometimes make up for a lack of talent, it still makes sense to hire a great employee who has talent. That talent can be shaped. If you can find someone who works hard and has talent, even if s/he lacks experience, that can be a great opportunity for you to hire a great team member who can help your company grow.
4. Initiative
You want employees that show initiative. A great employee comes up with ideas that can help your business and knows how to execute those ideas.
The other piece to this quality, though, is your own company culture. You need to encourage initiative and reward it. People start to lose their enthusiasm for the company if they don’t feel appreciated. Part of your job is to make sure your employees are empowered to show initiative.
5. Team Player
Finally, you want someone who is a tram player. A great employee can work well with others. Yes, you someone who doesn’t need a ton of oversight. However, that person should also be able to work with others when the situation calls for it. You want someone who gets along with others, and who can also communicate effectively outside the team.
Don’t forget to develop these qualities in yourself, though. Even as you look for a great employee to help you better manage your business, realize that you need these qualities too. As a leader of your company, it’s important that you are able to set a good example and interact meaningfully with your team in order to experience true success over the long haul.
