?TRY BEFORE YOU BUY?

One of the key reasons why people leave is that they are not suited to a particular role or company and are looking for a more suitable position.

ALL of the following are win-win scenarios where both the candidate and a business get to test out whether they are the right fit for each other or not.

1. Temp to perm

Take staff on a temporary contract with a view to it becoming permanent (say after 3 months) if you both find you are suited to each other

2. Probation period

Ensure every permanent recruit joins you on a 3-month probationary period so that you can release them if they fail to meet standards or don?t fit in (they?ll probably be wanting to leave anyway)

3. See people in your business before you offer the role

As part of the selection process, I encourage businesses to bring candidates in for a half day so they can see what it?s ?really like? and you can see how they get on with your team

4. See them in a social setting

It?s important that a new member of staff will fit in well with your existing team, so take them out for a meal or drinks before signing them up

5. Work experience & internships

Students are crying out for practical experience, so look at setting up work experience and internships with local schools, colleges and universities. The students gain real experience whilst you can try them out and see if they are right for you in the future

6. Build tests and role plays into your selection process

If appropriate, build aptitude, numerical and computer tests into your selection process. Use role-plays to see how potential recruits handle real situations

Not all of these are practical for every business or every hire ? but the key is to ensure that you maximise the opportunity to try someone out before offering them a permanent role.

For whatever reason, large numbers of the workforce are in jobs they dislike or are bored by. These people will only hamper the success of your business.

By trying before you buy, you not only minimise the risk to your business, but also ensure that someone doesn?t end up in a job they hate

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sital Ruparelia, the ?Recruitments & Retention Specialist? works with small businesses that struggle with recruitment and retention issues and helps them implement strategies proven to Find and Keep the Right People consistently.

Sital writes a FREE newsletter twice a month with tips on how to Find And Keep The Right People. To sign up now, visit http://www.authenticresourcing.com

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