As a business owner, it’s your goal to hire the best of the best. You want to see who’s out there, what they can bring to your business, and how you can best capture them to your advantage. Sure, you want to make it worth your while, too. But when it comes to hiring the best employees for your business, it’s all about finding those with ideal talent and skills who can come to the table. That’s the long and short of it.
Sure there is training and plenty of time to discover who can do what when they put in some time, but some skills just can’t be taught. Learn how to discover the best talent possible with your franchising business straight from the get-go. Doing so will help you find and hire more qualified individuals, straight from day one. Then moving forward, the only way you have to move is up.
Find (and keep) the highest quality employees with these proven tips:
1. Take Your Time Finding the Right Franchise Workers
This is an obvious, but yet overlooked step in hiring new franchise employees. Why? Because you’re ready to get started and sometimes, that means hiring folks fast. If you’re in a time crunch, or think you may be in one in weeks to come, we suggest getting started early. Widen you net, start asking around, and interview folks sooner rather than later. This will give you time to call references and get a better feel for who will be working in your new business. Give your search the time it deserves and the efforts will pay off in the end.
2. Remain Selective in Who You Hire
It can be hard to turn folks away if you’re feeling the pressure to find a team for your franchise. But sometimes it’s better to walk away from candidates who don’t fit the bill. Don’t be afraid to say “No thanks,” or at least, “Not right now” when you find a potential employee who just isn’t what you’re looking for. This selective nature can help save you stress and more work down the road.
3. Use a Service
You can bypass the stress of interviewing and hiring altogether by hiring it out. Opt for a service that does all your vetting and leave it to them to find the best possible workers for your franchise location. Doing so will likely cost more, but it will free the task from your plate, and give you the peace of mind that the job is being done correctly.
4. Do Your Due Diligence in the Hiring Process
Call references, chase paper trails, set up and follow up on background checks – all of these steps will only help your case. Don’t get caught in a sticky situation because you didn’t do your research. Anyone can say they’re a great candidate for the job, but as the franchise owner, it’s your job to prove it. Take the time to do your due diligence and ensure that you’re hiring people who are who they say they are. It’s one oversight you just can’t afford to make.
5. Give Your Franchise Employees a Reason to Join (And Stay)
When hiring high-quality employees, know that you’ll also need to be a high-quality place to work. If you don’t have a good work environment, don’t pay fairly, etc., you won’t keep workers for any amount of time, let alone those who are the most qualified. Take the time and effort to put a clean plan in place that will fairly compensate your employees, including those who are the most deserving. It’s the best way to keep them on the team and ensure they’re happy in their place of work.
6. Ask Those You Trust
Who’s in your corner? And how many people do they know? Just by getting the word out you can make some great connections. Create leads through everyday conversation simply by saying, “Hey I’m looking for employees.” Your friends and family members will tell the masses, and you can end up with some highly recommended candidates. Besides, by going through those you trust, you can easily ask for the details on their personality, work ethic, and more. This is a huge advantage, not to mention a way to cut down the time in finding your best franchise workers.
7. Consider Hiring Personalities, Not Skills
Just because a worker doesn’t have the right experience doesn’t mean they can’t learn. Consider training and putting in the time to train workers, especially as you’re getting started with your franchise business. Look into potential and hire workers who prove they’re able to work. This can create some highly skilled people on your team, so long as you’re willing to be patient and let them grow. It’s also a way to hire folks cheaper and to create employee loyalty.
8. Lead From the Front
Show your team that you’re willing to get down and dirty with even the least-wanted tasks. It’s an incredible move that can motivate and pick up spirits, just by doing what needs to be done. Franchise workers who feel certain tasks are below a rank will be less likely to follow through. In contrast, leading from the front shows them to take initiative, even when the tasks at hand aren’t the most enticing. Don’t overlook just how far this can go to create loyalty and motivation.
9. Trust Your Gut
Sometimes you just have to do what your gut is telling you to do. Don’t completely overlook the facts that are sitting in front of you, but you should also pay attention to what feels right. Your intuition will go a long way; as a business owner it’s important to learn to trust it. Don’t be afraid to take a (slight) risk when you’re hiring a team. Give others the chance to prove you right by doing a good job.