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Hiring Staff
Staff costs for many professionals can comprise up to 50% or more of total office expenses. This fact alone should prove the importance of excellent hiring practices.
The greatest mistakes professionals make when hiring are:
- hiring too quickly (i.e., the first person interviewed or the best of a 'poor lot')
- hiring staff who aren't qualified or who don't have the characteristics needed for the job so that lower rates of pay can be offered
- hiring staff who lack initiative or who aren't interested in helping the practice to grow.
Good hiring practices start with careful planning by:
- listing all the tasks that will have to be done within the office, from opening mail to greeting clients and handling finances
- assessing the experience needed by staff members to be able to do the work efficiently and assigning each task to certain positions, such as receptionist, nurse, technician, legal secretary, etc.
- assessing how much time each task will take on a daily, weekly or monthly basis
- assessing which positions should be hired on a full-time basis and which can be hired on a part-time basis, bearing in mind the importance of having continuity throughout the day.
The hiring process should never be short-circuited. Once you start advertising for candidates, you must take the time to find the right person for each job.
- Decide on the minimum qualifications needed for each position, and screen résumés accordingly
- Don't talk too much during the interview process. Ask them open-ended questions and let the candidate speak for 80% of the time.
- Do a reference check on the top three candidates for each position, and ask specific questions of references with regard to punctuality and initiative, and whether the reference would hire the candidate back if given the opportunity
- Bring in two or three final candidates for a second interview before you make your final selection
- Have a firm commitment from the applicant of your choice before you call the unsuccessful applicants to tell them of your decision.
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RBC Royal Bank has formed a strategic alliance with ADP Canada, the country's leading provider of Payroll Processing. To help you handle your practice payroll with speed and accuracy. |
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