Comments on: Having the Right People is Priority #1

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:56:36 +0000

Hi,
really great post. We are just starting out with a small company that we founded and are now hiring our first employees. I never thought that this would be such a tough job. You post gives some good insights on problems that we are strugelling with right now. Your post can give us some orientation I think. thanks.

By: workers comp law

workers comp law — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 02:39:42 +0000

It’s so true that the talented people are not necessarily the best and that the hungry people are often the ones you want on your team. It’s very hard to stay motivated and one has to have that hunger and drive.

By: DUI

DUI — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:51:49 +0000

The best technique I have ever used for finding good employees is to keep your eyes open when you are out at stores. I have actually hired 3 different superstar employees from a hardware store I frequent. Turns out none of them were happy in their current jobs.

By: geld lenen

geld lenen — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 15:15:43 +0000

Exactly, this is what it is all about

By: Sales Trainer

Sales Trainer — Sun, 10 May 2009 16:59:40 +0000

CrankyFranky, if you don’t ask, you won’t get.
I suggest that you re-look at what you can offer to an employer. If it’s valuable, make sure you present that with confidence. Let them make the play to obtain your services rather than the other way round.
There is a powerful technique in sales called ‘take-away’. In its simplest form it goes, ‘We’ve only got one widget left. Do you want it?’
To implement this, do plenty of prospecting so that you can tell each potential employer, ‘I’m looking at other offers’. You’ll probably get more than one bite.

By: CrankyFranky

CrankyFranky — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:08:36 +0000

I’ve been freelancing for most of the past 15-20 years.

How should I handle the issue of overtime? With the persistent downward ratcheting of my wage-rate in the past decade, overtime is a very important topic that I’m reticent to bring up at any stage in the interview process.

I learned about seven years ago that someone in my position and function receives overtime compensation (by a statutory rule, not up to anyone’s discretion). However, only about half the companies in my field comply.

It seems many readers here are decision makers so I ask for your candid advice:
How best to approach a topic that may disqualify me as a candidate?

By: Ades

Ades — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:23:56 +0000

It also depends on the company, if the company doesn’t value its people, do not recognize their efforts, and do not pay well… then i don’t think any person will give his/her 100% to such companies.

But let’s say the company is great, then agree with your points.

By: Sales Trainer

Sales Trainer — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:12:20 +0000

The most effective way to find the right people is to take on many, see if they work out and fire them if they don’t.

Just saying that is probably going to get me in trouble, I realize. But it really is the truth; you don’t know in advance if someone will perform the way that they say they will or the way you hope they will - actions speak louder than words. Hiring from interview is a flawed process.

So what is the answer? Payment by results. If the new hire doesn’t make much money, they won’t be around long. And If they are making lots of money, they will stay and make you successful too.

Is it really possible to use this model? Yes it is occasionally, but of course there is much resistance to the idea in most forms of employment. But then you could say, that such resistance is really a cover for low performance.

The other problem is that payment by results can lead to unscrupulous actions by the hiree in achieving high performance stats.

Finding good workers is a perennial problem, but the hire (0n commission only)/evaluate/fire-if-no-good model is worth consideration.

How to Hire a Really Good Salesman

By: Hendro

Hendro — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:08:26 +0000

Having built a number of teams, i’m completely agree with ‘getting the right people on the bus’ mentality.

I conclude that great team > work by yourself > wrong team.
Things just fly once you find the right people. It’s easier to say than done though. It took me few times to figure out how to do it properly.

By: DUI Laws

DUI Laws — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:33:51 +0000

Good article but I’ve found that it is very hard to find good people. Most start out wanting it but can’t finish. I’ve found over the years I can’t count on anyone buy myself.