How to find the right employee

Have a clear idea what sort of person you are looking for

Recruiting staff is fraught with dangers. Choose the right person and your business can flourish - employ someone unsuitable and you could be in for a rocky ride.

So how can you improve your chances of employing someone who matches your needs?

Make sure you know what the job entails and what sort of candidate you are looking for. Draw up a detailed job description.

Decide the main purpose of the job and the key tasks this will encompass. This can then be broadened out to include areas of responsibility and the number of people they will supervise.

Skills and knowledge

Next, draw up a person specification. This should include the skills and knowledge required, depth of experience and level of education.

Be careful with personal criteria. These must only be of importance to the job - and must be equally applied regardless of age, sex, race or disability.

Then you must decide the salary. Factors to bear in mind include pay scales, grades, the current market situation and other bonuses, such as a car. These tasks will help you form a mental image of the person you want to employ.

Placing a job ad Local or national newspapers Recruitment consultants The local job centre Trade newspapers and magazines

Choose where you want to place the advert and make sure the application form is straightforward. When the CVs start arriving, the task of coming up with a shortlist should be undertaken by two or more people - including the person who will be the new recruit's immediate line manager.

At this stage you should compare the applicants against your job and person specifications.

The interview process

Interviewers should prepare just as closely as interviewees. They must carefully read the application form to find out areas which need further examination.

Create the environment which will give the candidate the best chance of putting themselves across in a good light. Try to avoid any interruptions and have a few open questions to encourage them to start talking.

Avoid asking questions not related to the job as some may be taken as potentially discriminatory, particularly regarding their plans for starting a family.