Business Basics > Need Business Help?

Human Resource Management

For more information about human resource issues, make an appointment with one of our counselors by contacting our office.

Attracting and Selecting Appropriate Employees
Developing a Quality Workforce
Maintaining Employee Satisfaction

Attracting and Selecting Appropriate Employees
Hiring someone who is right for a job is not always easy. Promoting from within the company has its advantages, but if you are just starting your business you'll obviously need to hire from outside.

When advertising a job opening, be specific in listing necessary qualifications so that you don't waste your time interviewing people that will not meet your standards. Typically, interviews are given after a formal application has been submitted. If the job requires special skills or knowledge, tests may be administered to recognize those candidates that meet the position's criteria.

Next, you may want to check each potential employee's references or speak to a former employer. This will familiarize you with his or her work habits and compatibility with the available position. Health examinations may be necessary for some labor-intensive jobs or for insurance reasons. Many companies also require drug tests. Because physical examinations and tests can be expensive, they are usually only given to applicants that have passed the interview process and will most likely be offered the job.

After a candidate has finished the selection process, you must decide whether to hire him or her. Does the applicant have the potential to do the job well? The answer is not always simple. After gaining experience in hiring employees, you will have a better idea what type of person it takes to do the job correctly.

top of page

Developing a Quality Workforce
As a manager, it is your responsibility to influence the attitudes and behavior of new employees in a desirable way. Helping new staff members become accustomed to the business and their coworkers will allow them to feel comfortable at work and may increase their productivity.

Giving employees proper training is crucial so that they don't learn the "wrong" way to do their jobs. Evaluating an employee's performance after he or she has been with the company for a period of time will help you decide what improvements need to be made. You may find that the employee is not right for the job at all.

top of page

Maintaining Employee Satisfaction
Retaining employees can be very valuable to your company. It takes too much time, money, and effort to fill open positions all the time. That's why listening to your employees and respecting their needs is so important.

Adding work demands to personal and family needs is often difficult. Having the proper work-life balance is essential to keeping employees happy at work. As an employer, you should take these needs into consideration when asking an employee to go on business trips, work long hours, etc. Some companies let their employees work from home or provide day care facilities at the office. See what you can do to make it easier for your workers to spend time with their families.

Career development is also important in keeping your employees satisfied. Training seminars, continuing education classes, and conventions are all ways to enhance an employee's knowledge, which is beneficial to your company, too. When an employee leaves a position, promoting another employee to the job is not only a great way for you to find a replacement, but will show them that they are not in a dead-end job.

Employees should be properly compensated for their work. Giving them raises or increasing their benefits after a period of time lets them know that you appreciate the work they are doing. Employers in many different fields will pay competitively high salaries for quality employees, so keeping up with the industry's wages is important in retaining staff members. Finding out what similar companies in your area pay their employees will give you a better idea of how to compensate your workers.

top of page