Building a team can be complicated, especially when dealing with special skills that require in-depth knowledge. When considering new additions to your team, it’s important for Nevada employers to consider three important factors:

• Qualifications
• Potential
• Fit for the company

At NAE, we encourage Nevada-based employers to invest time in screening applicants for new positions. This will ultimately increase the value of your business and allow you to expand your reach and reputation.

Tip 1: Hire Qualified Applicants

While it may seem like a good idea to hire full-time employees straight out of college to save on cost, consider the responsibilities involved in that position. The main traits you should look for in your applicants are:

• Education level: You should screen prospective applicants based on their education. Some positions will require an advanced degree such as a master’s or doctorate. For other positions, you might want an employee that has more practical experience and less academic emphasis.
• Work experience: Certain jobs can be challenging for people who have never had a full-time job. Not only will they need to adjust to the demands of a 9-5 job and commute to and from work, but also they will have to take on new tasks that may require a lengthy training period.
• Skill set:Some technical positions such as developer or designer may require skills in certain programs such as Adobe, proficiency in a certain language of code, or a portfolio of previous projects. Set the right expectations for the applicant by determining what you want to see from them before calling them in for an interview.

Tip 2: Potential for Learning

Part of being a team, especially for a small business, is the ability to become a chameleon at a moment’s notice. That means you should hire employees who have the capacity to learn information through training with other employees, courses offered through your company, or while they work. Ideally, you should have more than one person with a certain skill set so that projects don’t get held up because of illness or vacation.

Tip 3: Fit for the Company

Every employee you hire represents a brand image for your company. If you hire an employee who does not fit in with your company culture, this can create problems with team-building exercises or other group activities. Before hiring an applicant, make sure they fit with the team members that they work with the most. Balancing personalities is an important tool for effective management and even if the qualifications and potential for learning are there, the applicant may not be right for your company culture.

For more information about how to build an effective team, contact NAE at (888) 398-8092.