employees
Group of corporate people working on new project

By Anica Oaks

Employers realize that good employees do not just happen. They require training and a good business atmosphere to encourage them to be their best. Employers who adequately train their employees and who promote a positive work environment will have a high retention rate.

Know What You Are Looking for

The first step in finding and training a good employee is knowing what you are looking for. Part of this is a predetermined by the job description and the skill set an employee must have in order to work. For example, if an employer is looking for a computer scientist, they may say that they want someone who has completed computer science classes from an accredited institution.

Employers should make a list of the duties, responsibilities, physical requirements, level of experience, and personality types they are looking for in their employees and use this as a basis for determining where to start the search.

Get the Word out

Employers will never find employees if they don’t get out there and search. The days of being able to put a sign in the window and having qualified employees flock to a business have long since passed. Some companies can afford to post on job boards. Companies that do not have a budget to do this may use free advertising methods such as social media and their company’s webpage. Current employees are also a good source for finding new hires. A founder of a Fortune 500 company once said that smart, creative people usually have friends who are also smart and creative.

Learn How to Train

Just because a business owner knows how to do a particular job does not mean that they understand how to train others. Employers should educate themselves on how to teach their employees the hard skills of the job, as well as the “soft skills” required to complete the task. When it comes to teaching “hard skills,” like using a particular piece of software, maintaining inventory, or other step-by-step processes, employers are not looking for employees who are going to be creative and go off and do their own thing. They want employees who will follow instruction. However, when it comes to training “soft skills,” creativity should be encouraged.

Train According to the Person, Not the Job

Every individual learns in a different way. Employers must tailor their training style to the employee. This means taking the time to listen to the employee more than talking. Get to know them and understand their motivation for doing the job. Work with them and help them learn. If they make mistakes, don’t blame them but help them to correct their mistakes and not repeat them.

Employees are the lifeblood of any business. For this reason, it is essential that employers take the time to find good employees and train them to do the job well.

Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here.