7 Tips for Hiring Your First Employee

If you’re ready to hire your first employee, it can be overwhelming figuring out where to start. After all, where are you going to find an employee who works as hard as you do? Believe it or not, the right person for your fledgling company is out there. But hiring someone for your business isn’t always a straightforward process—there are different tax forms, insurance requirements, and government regulations that need to be followed.

Below, you can find a basic outline of the steps you’ll want to take as you move forward in the hiring process.

Step 1: Get an employer identification number and register with your state’s labor department.

When you are about to hire a new employee, there are quite a few things you need to get squared away. For example, you need to get an EIN or employer identification number as your very first step. You’ll use this on tax forms and any other documentation you need to file your taxes with the IRS.

In addition, your first hire means you’ll start paying state unemployment compensation taxes. These payments go to your state’s unemployment fund which provides compensation to workers who lose their jobs.

Step 2: Obtain workers’ compensation insurance and set up a payroll system.

Getting workers’ comp coverage to safeguard team members who might get injured on the job is an essential step before taking on a new hire. In the majority of states, this type of coverage is required. There are a few exceptions to this rule however—you’ll need to do your due diligence to understand your local regulations regarding this.

Because of required Social Security and Medicare payments, part of your employee’s paycheck will be withheld— but it’s on you to make sure this happens. You’ll have to set up and run a payroll system–or, you can use an automated or virtual payroll processing service system.

Step 3: Streamline and focus your hiring process

Your first step in the hiring process should be to outline the role you’re hiring for. Make sure that your job description gives clear job requirements, compensation details, benefits package information, and any other relevant position information.

Make sure that you know exactly what your new hire is going to do. Who are you looking for? Do you need a potential employee who can fill in for you on short notice or do you want someone who can work consistently on a 9-to-5 basis? Those are just a few of the questions you’ll want to know the answer to.

A basic job description checklist can be found below:

Clear job title
Role objectives and responsibilities
Reporting relationship
Required experience
Required education including licensing or certifications
Description of company
Description of hours and/or schedule
Details of benefits and perks
Pay range

Remember, you want to entice people to apply, but you’ll need to make sure that the job description accurately describes the candidate you’re looking for. Otherwise, you’ll get a huge number of applicants who aren’t right for the position. That might not seem like a big problem but when you’re sorting through hundreds of applications, it can eat up a large portion of your day.

Additionally, it’s important that you take care to follow all laws regarding discriminatory hiring practices. It’s illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.

Step 4: Conduct a phone screen

After you narrow down your pool of applicants, it’s important to conduct some phone interviews.Phone screens act as an additional filter so nobody wastes their time in an in-person interview. Some of the benefits of a phone interview include: getting applicants to better understand the job itself, finding out if the applicant meets the basic requirements outlined in the job description, and acquiring clarity on a candidate’s experience. These additional screenings also help you determine if salary numbers are in the same ballpark and figure out if the candidate’s long-term career aspirations are aligned with your company’s growth plan.

If you’re not sure what kinds of questions you should ask a candidate during your phone interview, you might want to consider the ones below:

Why are you leaving your current employer?
How would you describe your work style and leadership style?
Why are you interested in this role?
What are some of the skills you’d bring to this position?
What challenges are you looking for in this position?
What are your salary expectations?
Do you have any questions about the role?
What is your proudest work achievement thus far and why?

Step 5: Get your new employee’s paperwork complete and report your new hire to the state

A new employee needs to fill out quite a bit of paperwork prior to beginning work. For instance, new hires must fill out an IRS Form W-4 which is the employee’s withholding allowance certificate. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also requires employers to fill out a Form 1-9, which verifies that the employee is able to work in the US.

You’ll need to report any new hire to your state new hire reporting agency as well.

Step 6: Post required notices in your workspace

Many government agencies require the posting of workers’ rights in visible spaces. Make sure you have all the required posters up in your workspace.

Step 7: Put together an employee handbook

Even if you only have one employee right now, that could quickly change depending on how much your company grows in the short and long-term. To save yourself time in the future, consider putting together a handbook detailing your company policies and expectations. It’s a good way to be transparent about your expectations and gives employees insight into different procedures and processes.

Other hiring tips

When you’re hiring a new employee who will be the first team member with your company, it’s easy to look for someone who’s a replica of you. However, that’s a bad idea. While a similar mindset is a great idea, you don’t need to hire your twin to make a successful hire. A new hire simply needs to be complementary to your attitude and work style. For example, maybe you’re a creative type who’s a little scatterbrained. If that’s the case, someone who’s organized and more of a Type A personality might ultimately be the best fit to help provide the structure you’re missing.

Conclusion: Hiring a new employee doesn’t have to be intimidating

When you own your own company, every decision feels critical. As a small business owner, your decisions are amplified since you’re likely running on more narrow margins than a larger company. However, making the right hire can help your company reach newfound levels of success. Follow this guide and get to interviewin’!