| One of the most costly mistakes for small | | | | be learned, but great customer service or superb |
| business owners is making a bad hiring decision. | | | | selling skills can only be acquired with time and |
| Losing the money spent on recruiting, the time to | | | | experience. |
| interview the candidates, and the time and cost | | | | 3. Accomplishments |
| spent on employee training are a few of the | | | | When reading through resumes, look for |
| major profit-squeezers that result from hiring | | | | applicants who write about their accomplishments. |
| mistakes. | | | | These are candidates who understand the |
| Some entrepreneurs attempt to reduce risk by | | | | bottom-line initiatives of an organization. A resume |
| hiring family or friends-which in most cases | | | | that mentions saving time, cutting costs, and |
| proves to be the worst hiring mistake of all. It is | | | | solving customer disputes represents someone |
| difficult for most people to accept the relationship | | | | who can handle your problems as well. |
| transition from family member to employee. Most | | | | On the flip side, when reading resumes watch out |
| often, those friendships will end in resentment and | | | | for these two traps: |
| disappointment. When a veteran small business | | | | 1. Unstable work history |
| owner tells you, "Never hire family!" you can bet | | | | Pay attention to the dates on a resume. While the |
| he's learned the hard way. | | | | life expectancy of a job isn't what it was a |
| With a little skill and guidance, small business | | | | generation ago, a string of short-term positions |
| owners can learn much about potential candidates | | | | should be a concern. Candidates with too many |
| by understanding resumes. When reading | | | | jobs in too short of a time usually have excuses |
| resumes, there are three great things to look | | | | for all of them-sometimes even great excuses. |
| for-and two traps to watch out for. | | | | But good excuses aren't the same thing as good |
| When reading a resume, the three things to look | | | | reasons. If you see a consistent pattern of |
| for are: | | | | instability, beware! This may be a candidate who |
| 1. Industry experience | | | | (1) doesn't get along with authority; (2) loses |
| You'll make shortcuts in new employee training if | | | | interest in his job after time; or (3) is just plain |
| your new hire has previous experience in your | | | | inept. Beware also of unexplained gaps in |
| industry. You will see a faster return on | | | | employment, which may indicate even more |
| investment with your new employee when he or | | | | serious problems. |
| she already understands what your customers | | | | 2. Unfocused career path |
| want. Prior industry experience also means he or | | | | While it's quite normal for one's career path to |
| she may have a business following that will result | | | | shift, candidates whose resumes show opposing |
| in added revenue for your business. | | | | career directions may indicate uncertainty about |
| 2. Transferable skills | | | | their career path. Look out for candidates who |
| Very often transferable skills are as critical as | | | | have held contrasting positions like "sales" and |
| industry experience. Skills such as customer | | | | "accounting," or "account manager" and "librarian." |
| service, problem solving, sales and/or crisis | | | | This may be a candidate who doesn't know what |
| management are valuable in almost every | | | | he wants in his career. After working for you as |
| industry. Before interviewing candidates, make | | | | customer service rep, he may decide he really |
| sure you understand the five most important | | | | wants to be a dog groomer! |
| transferable skills needed for the position you are | | | | With practice you'll gain expertise at reading |
| hiring. Keep those skills in mind when reviewing | | | | between the lines of a resume. Remember the |
| resumes. Candidates whose resumes showcase | | | | three great things to look for and the two traps |
| those skills should be considered whether they | | | | to avoid, and you'll save yourself valuable time, |
| have industry experience or not. An industry can | | | | money and effort in hiring new employees. |