Hiring a new employee can be a difficult task for most business owners. You aren't sure if the candidates you are looking at will be superior performers. There are some ways you can take the guess work out of finding an employee that is the right fit for your business.

 Clearly Understand The Position

Before you can hire someone that will meet the needs of your business, you must first identify what those needs are. Hiring a superior performer for a position requires a well-defined job description. 

You have to identify exactly what you need the employee to do for your business. If you do not, then you will not be able to find an individual that will perform at a top level. A fuzzy expectation leads to hiring people that are not equipped to handle the job.

People that do not feel confident in their abilities will not apply for positions that have job descriptions that intimidate them. You will weed out a lot of unnecessary resumes by developing a description with specific qualifications.

When you receive resumes, you can compare the candidate's experience with your job description. If they do not meet those expectations, you will not waste an interview.

Develop A Plan For The Interview

Interviews can be a tricky part of the hiring process. A candidate that comes in for a meeting will say anything they can to get the job. People that interview well are not always good employees for the position.

Before you bring someone in for the interview, develop an intentional question list. Do not ask open ended questions, rather specific questions that will give you the information you are looking for. Characteristics of a superior performer are those that are goal oriented, motivated, self-directing, yet team players at the same time.

What You Need To Ask A Potential Candidate

Ask a potential candidate to share with you past experiences that will line up with the job description you created. If they are unable to come up with experiences that will help them fill your requirements, then you will know if they will perform well in this position or not.

Talk to the candidate about their current job. Ask them to be honest with you about parts of the job they do not like. This will give you a good indication of their character.

Ask them to share with you times in their previous jobs in which they took initiative. A superior performer cannot help but to be creative in the jobs that they work. They will see the needs around them and rise to the task.

Superior performers take initiative right off the bat. Ask the candidate what questions they have for you as a potential employer. If they ask knowledgeable questions about your business, then you know they have spent time learning about your company. That is a sign of initiative.

As a final step, make sure they take an online talent assessment to reveal their temperament, motivations and personal talents.  More info