Hiring top talent is crucial for the growth and success of your business. The right employees can bring a wealth of expertise, ideas, and energy that will propel your business to new heights.
However, it can be time-consuming and complex to hire staff, especially if you’re a small business owner juggling multiple responsibilities.
This guide will walk you through hiring employees for your New Zealand business, helping you define your needs, craft a compelling recruitment advert, and make the final offer.
Planning for your hire
To recruit new workers, you need to identify your needs. What tasks will your new employee be responsible for? What skills and qualifications should they possess? Budget considerations also play a significant role.
You need to determine how much you can afford to pay your new employee, considering wages, taxes, and legally required benefits, such as KiwiSaver. It’s essential for you, as an employer, to ensure that hiring new employees aligns with your financial capabilities.
Make sure that you are familiar with New Zealand’s employment laws. We recommend consulting a legal expert to understand obligations such as fair employee pay, working hours, and termination processes.
Before you hire staff, your business must also have an IRD number for tax purposes – apply for one online through Inland Revenue.
Writing a compelling job description
Create a comprehensive job description that clearly outlines what you are searching for to streamline the recruiting process. Ensure your description includes the following:
- Title: Make it specific, relevant, and clear.
- Company overview: Briefly describe your company, emphasising its mission and values.
- Role responsibilities: List all the work expected of the potential employee to provide a clear idea of the day-to-day tasks.
- Required qualifications: Specify the necessary educational background, certifications, and experience.
- Desired skills: Include both hard and soft skills that would benefit the role.
Use clear, engaging language to ensure the description is accessible. Highlight your company’s unique features, such as healthcare or remote work opportunities, to draw in more interested prospects.
Finding your ideal person
To find the ideal employee to fill the role, use platforms such as:
- Job boards: General job boards like SEEK and Indeed are effective for reading a broad audience. Job seekers can filter roles based on their own experience and expectations, meaning your applications will generally be relevant to the role. More niche boards allow you to connect you with people who have specific skills that the role requires.
- Recruitment agencies: Agencies can help streamline hiring processes by pre-selecting employee candidates based on your requirements. This saves you the time of needing to review every potential employee yourself. However, it can be a more costly option as you will pay the hiring agency a fee for their services.
- Social media: Online social media platforms offer the dual advantage of broad reach and the ability to engage with potential candidates directly. Social sites specifically designed for jobs, such as LinkedIn, even allow you to view profiles and past experiences, giving you the chance to seek out people with specific skills instead of the other way around.
The interview process
The interview is your opportunity to assess the applicants’ skills, experience, and fit within your staff.
Prepare your questions in advance, ensuring they are relevant and objective. Gauge their interview responses carefully to understand how they have handled past situations and how they might perform in the future as an employee.
This is also the time to discuss salary expectations and other compensation, like healthcare benefits.
Making the offer and onboarding
After selecting your preferred candidate, make a detailed offer that includes everything from salary and benefits to responsibilities and any probationary period. Be transparent and up-front about all terms to avoid any misunderstandings later on.
Once the new employee accepts their offer, introduce them to the company culture, key colleagues, and important projects. Effective onboarding can greatly influence their ability to integrate successfully and start contributing to the company.
Include practical training sessions and provide access to all necessary tools and systems. Regular feedback sessions during the first few months are also essential to address any issues and help the employee feel valued and supported.
Hire the right person for the job with help from BizEx
Hiring for your business is all about forming a team that will drive your business towards its goals. It requires careful planning, diligent execution, and ongoing improvement. With the right approach, you can attract and retain the best talent, ensuring the success and growth of your business.
By taking the time to make informed decisions during the hiring process, you position your business for success. Ready to streamline your hiring process and payroll?
Try BizEx’s custom software solutions tailored for NZ employers. To learn more about our products and services, contact us today.