So your trade business is growing (good for you!). You’ve reached the point of hiring additional members for your team. Unfortunately, this period in your trade business can be painful. It doesn’t have to be if you know what you’re doing. Let me share what I mean.
Firstly, you need to make sure your decision to hire is the right one. Secondly, there are some common errors that trade businesses make when hiring their first employees that you need to avoid.
Follow these hiring do’s and dont’s will make your hiring process both successful and pain free:
Hiring don’ts
1. Hire before you know what you’re hiring for
Don’t be too hasty! Take your time to develop clear, and thorough job descriptions. These should be focused on what outcomes you need, rather what tasks are required. Do this before you start the interview process. This way, the skills of the new employee will properly match their responsibilities.
2. Create your own salary package
Once you have a good job description, take the time to research the right salary range. Salary information can be obtained from other job postings, the Fair Work Australia website, or simply ask other tradies what their going rate is. Learn what the job title you’re hiring for is commanding in terms of salary (and if you can afford this) before posting your ‘wanted’ advertisement.
3. Overcomplicate job titles
It may seem you’re sweetening the offer of employment by giving your new office staff a job title of ‘customer service manager’. Complicating job titles will only increase their salary expectations. Ever heard of the phrase K.I.S.S? Keep it simple stupid? This is one situation where this saying needs to be followed. Overcomplicating a job title really doesn’t benefit anyone.
Hiring do’s
1. Remember the new team member is starting on XX day/date
Make it a matter of importance that you are ready for your new recruit day one with uniforms, iPad, phone etc and a chance to meet the team. There’s not a lot love or importance shown to the new tradesman and they may be questioning if they made the right decision.
2. Perform a proper induction into the business
When a new hire starts, you need to be there for them in their first few weeks. Make sure they’re your priority and train them properly. They will feel valued and more comfortable in a foreign environment. They are also more likely to form relationships and stay longer.
3. Provide contracts and your latest employment handbook
Don’t think starting a new team member is a hand-shake deal. You need to be clear around the expectations you and the business have on this position. This is communicated through contracts and an Employment Handbook.
Do it right the first time. First and foremost there’ll be no blurred lines. Everyone knows where each other stand. You will be comfortable knowing you are doing things right by the law and your new team member will be impressed you are so professional and have their interests at heart.
Getting to the stage of your trade business where you need to hire new staff can be exciting times. Take the time to approach hiring with a strategic eye, ensuring that the team members you hire today will facilitate further growth tomorrow. A rushed decision can be a costly mistake.
What’s next?
- Join our Kick-Ass Tradies Facebook Group, for access to trade business specific conversations, tips and resources, plus a like-minded community of tradies.
- Book a 15-minute Game Plan Call with Andy, owner of Dr. DRiP plumbing and co-founder of Lifestyle Tradie, to clarify your priorities and get clear action steps.
