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ou've launched your business, and it's beginning to grow. You feel ready to take on your rst staff member - but don't be

too hasty. Its easy to want to ll that rst vacancy as quickly as possible but making the wrong appointment could become a huge burden for you and your edgling business. So, take a step back and consider these 10 questions to ask before deciding to hire your rst employee:

1. Do you need to delegate some of your tasks?To keep your eye on strategic matters, you can't be weighed down by too many mundane tasks. Ask yourself if you've reached that point with your business and need to start delegating some of the work.

2. Do you have a defined role to fill?Don't be vague! Take time to come up with a job description that spells out the specic responsibilities of the new employee. That will help ensure you pick a truly qualied candidate. The more detailed the job description, the easierit will be for you to set benchmarks to measure future performance.

3. Could a freelancer be just as eective?Rather than committing to a full-time post with a regular salary and benets, some businesses are better off retaining someone on a freelance or contract basis. Ideal as a stopgap while you conrm the need for full time support.

4. Can your network help you find your employee? Hiring an employee recommended by someone from your network can take away much of the uncertainty and increase the chances of a successful t. So, check to see if you have connections on social media sites who could recommend a candidate--or maybe even be your rst employee.

5. Are you hiring someone with your skills?Dont appoint someone with the same skill set as you. Instead,

look for someone who has skills which compliment your weaknesses. Someone who enjoys the jobs you hate would be the perfect match.

6. Can you make a multi-year commitment to the employee?Hiring a full-time employee means you need to be prepared to provide steady income and developmental opportunities. It moves you toward being an employer rather than an entrepreneur and makes you responsible for someone else's motivation, pay, safety, training and drama. So, be sure to have training goals in place, along with a plan for paying a salary over the long-term.

7. How will the new employee add to your bottom line?Your rst employee is a huge nancial investment, so you need to understand how that person can help make your business more protable.

8. Would you spend time with the employee outside of work?Because startups are known for long hours, it's especially important to get along on a personal as well as a professional level. When you interview candidates, look for shared interests, common outlook and approaches to solving problems.

9. Will the candidate be a good model for future employees?Before committing to a new hire, make sure the employee possesses the necessary qualities to serve as a model to the workers you may hire later on. You set the culture of the company with your rst employees so look for people who can work as part of a small team but also independently.

10. Can you count on your first employee to stay a while? The rst employee will come to know the company inside and out, so it's important that he or she is eager to grow with the business. Less employee turnover means you'll save money on recruiting and training costs.

employment

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