5 Things to Consider Before You Hire Employees or Contractors for Your Jewelry Business
By Robin Kramer
It’s time! The sales are coming in, your business is booming and you are at a point in your jewelry business where you need to hire someone in order to keep the momentum building.
Lucky you! We like to call this a luxury problem! But before you dive in and place the ad for your new hire, we’d like to share with you 5 things to consider before you hire employees or contractors for your jewelry business.
1. Be Slow to Hire.
Finding the right person can take time, so take your TIME to hire and train the right person. Make sure that you have a well-defined job description and systems and processes in place so that you can easily train your new hire. Remember, hire the right person based on their skill set not just because you like them.
2. Find someone who is eager to learn.
Finding someone who is eager to learn and is trainable can often be a better hire than someone who is set in their ways. Willingness to learn, sharpness and open-mindedness combined with the right skill set is the best combination.
3. Check references.
Make sure you check references. Ask questions and always ask if the reference would hire this person again. Remember, references are typically those who will give glowing recommendations for your new hire. If the reference conversation seems lackluster, take that as a sign that this person might not be the right person.
Always ask and check for references as this is not a step to be skipped.
4. Set clear expectations.
Set your new hire up for success by having clear expectations of what is required of them. These expectations should be written out and reviewed with them. Create milestone markers for goals and use these expectations and goals as the framework for quarterly and yearly reviews.
5. Communicate.
Make sure you check in with your employees and communicate with them clearly. Miscommunication can lead to a lot of wasted time and frustration on both parts. Schedule a weekly touch base even if you are in communication every day.
Hiring a contractor or an employee is an exciting and big step for a jewelry business owner. It means you are taking that step to grow your business. With the right tools it can be a fun process as well as a successful one.
We want to hear from you! In the comments below, answer the following:
1. What hesitations do you have in hiring employees or contractors?
2. If you have hired help already, tell us one thing that prepared you?
If you haven’t checked out our FREE series, “How to Find Your Dream Client” you are missing out. Learn how to get crystal clear on attracting more raving fans with this fun training. Go here to enroll for free.
