How To Hire Someone

Compose an ad that includes the kind of experience you are looking for. But don’t list a salary; you’ll want to leave yourself a little wiggle room depending on the experience of the applicants.

Place your ad on employment websites, with headhunters, in classified pages, and even popular sites like craigslist. The average cost of online recruitment is $373—about one-tenth of the more traditional forms.

Review the resumes. On the ones you like, jot down a brief note or circle the details that caught your eye.

Set up interviews with the most promising candidates. Don’t delay, or you may lose your first choice.

Arrange follow-up interviews with the top candidates so they can be screened by their potential colleagues and supervisors.

Before making a job offer, check the candidate’s references. Fear of legal action restricts many employers from providing much more than dates of employment for former employees, making references more important than ever.

Ready to hire? Send a written offer reiterating the terms of employment (salary, start date, vacation and sick days, performance reviews, and so on), so there is no confusion later.