Page 5 - The 7 Biggest Mistakes Trades and Builders Unwittingly Make

Not recruiting
4 4 the right people

So many times I see business owners in the be just one interview! Normally I would recom-
Trades sector ‘panic hire’. This is when they mend a short telephone interview, and then
desperately need someone, and Bob, who shortlist down to 3 applicants for a final stage
knows Mary, who has a son named Fred, is face-to-face interview. The questions should
looking for work. Fred is called and at best met be focused on asking the candidate for exam-
for a coffee, and hired. This happens in other ples of different situations they have been in
industries as well, don’t get me wrong, but it and how they dealt with them e.g. an unhappy
is simply the worst way of recruiting quality customer, a time when they let their boss down
team members. etc.

First of all we should be planning ahead and At this stage I would also incorporate some
forecasting when an additional team mem- form of practical test if the position you are
ber is likely to be required. By having the right recruiting for is a contractor or engineer, which
wording in a job advert, and having this placed may involve shadowing you for a couple of
on the right job boards (websites advertising hours so that you can evaluate their compe-
vacancies), can generate a volume of applica- tence.
tions to choose from. I would always recom-
mend doing this first along with asking people TOP TIP – Plan ahead for recruitment needs,
you know in the industry if they can recom- and advertise and ask around. Ensure that you
mend anyone. have a proper selection process in place, ide-
ally telephone interview to screen, followed by
The next part is to ensure that you have a se- face-to-face interview with a practical assess-
lection process in place, and this should never ment.

EXERCISE

Who do you need to recruit over the next 6 months?
When do you need to start the process?

How can you strengthen your selection process?

5 Alison Warner The 7 Biggest Mistakes Trades and Builders Unwittingly Make http://www.buildandgrow.org.uk/