When you are looking to bring a new member into your team there are a lot of important factors. Can they do the job you want them to do? Do they want to do the job you want them to do? These are just a couple of things to think about when bringing someone new to the team.
It’s always a good thing to hire and surround yourself with A Players (like we discussed here). And one of the best ways to make sure that you’re getting the people you need is to make sure you set expectations up front.
One thing you can do to begin with is to have a relatively informal meeting with the person and touch on some of the things you’re expecting (and let them do the same). If things look good, you can take it from there.
You can write letters or emails welcoming them to the team and at the same time you can outline your expectations: I expect this work to be done this amount of time after it’s assigned; I’d like you to keep in touch with me if you have any problems with this particular area of the work. Things like this can help both of you be more comfortable in your professional relationship.
Expectations can hinge on the kind of person you are as well. If you’re the kind of person who has a ‘hands-off’ approach when you’ve assigned a task, you’ll want to make sure that you find someone who doesn’t require a lot of supervision or hand-holding.
It’s also a good idea to find out if the persons you’re hiring can do the job; references and examples are always a good idea. Be up front and ask lots of questions – if the person is worth your time, they’ll also be open and honest with you.
If you’re looking for a group of A Players who can help you with your SEO needs, you’re definitely in the right place. Melbourne SEO Services can help you take your business to the next level. Check out our services page for more information.
I love the 30DC and Ed Dale, I am part of his Challenge Plus course, and Market Samurai is a must have tool for all. Thanks for this, I need to start outsourcing myself.
Lovin it, we’re at the point where we need to hire someone from the Philippines. I pick up some really good notes from your presentation, like the setting the expectations, contacts n stuff.
Cheers, Joel.
Just looked at my spelling in the last comment… Terrible! It’s late, I’m going to bed…
It’s everybody’s dream to get “A” players. Finding these people isn’t always an easy task. Checking qualifications, experience and credentials can be a good way to initially screen applicants but sometimes it helps too to try to dig into an applicant’s inner thoughts, motivations and personality. Are there any specific character/personality signs (that aren’t too obvious) that you look out for in a person that send out a red flag?
@Gwen – Generally we look for a handful of things. First, we like to see that they have a qualification under their belt, and second, we like to see that they have dedication to their work. This is why we generally will set some trial work for new assistants, and base our decision on how they perform with those tasks. Another great idea is to keep an keen eye out for those who have some kind of an entrepreneurial personality as well, as these people generally will think more in lines with the needs of your business rather than just getting jobs done for the sake of getting jobs done.
For example, when I started working at Melbourne SEO Services, I had (ans still have) no qualifications at all, however, I do work from home, and I have my own business outside of Melbourne SEO Services. I proved to David through my trial work that I was the guy for the job, and I am still here at Melbourne SEO Services. 🙂 Hope that helps!