If you’ve ever had an open position and you know a neighbor or relative is looking for work, you know the feeling. On one hand, there are several motivating factors to consider: A sense of moral obligation to hire “your own,” especially if he or she resides within your community. It’s natural to feel an allegiance to your fellow community member, social pressure (of varying degrees of intensity) and, of course, an honest to goodness desire to help. On the other hand, you feel torn between walking the fine line of doing what’s right for your business, and what’s socially perceived as right (and obligatory).

This is a very sensitive issue for some business owners, especially those who reside in close-knit communities, where people share common social events, such as PTA meetings and various other community functions. This could have a significant impact on the nature of relationships within such communities.

As a staffing strategist with more than 20 years of experience in working with small business, professional communities, I have been consulted on this issue many times. With regards to what’s socially perceived as right and its ramifications, one needs to think this through on one’s own, of course. But the following information may be useful in helping one sort out this issue in a businesslike way.

Whenever one hires someone, one must take the necessary provisions so that in the event that person has to be let go it does not cause havoc in your business or professional life. This is not to suggest that just because one is a neighbor/relative/friend s/he should not be considered for a position. Just be sure the person is well suited and qualified. However, it’s important to keep in mind the following rule when hiring: “Never hire someone you can’t fire.”

From a business point of view, talent selection should be determined solely on qualifications. One shouldn’t settle for a less competent employee, or apologize for making such a call. However, if there are two contenders for the job in question, both equally qualified, responsibility toward friend/neighbor member of community may certainly be the deciding factor.

The question remains, now that one knows what needs to be done, how does one go about doing it without having to deal with social fallout? As a practical solution to this problem many small companies are hiring staffing strategists (who generally work at an hourly rate) to manage their recruiting assignments in a professional and discreet manner. Staffing strategists will usually not disclose the name of the potential employer until there is a mutual interest in committing. The entire recruiting process, from prospect sourcing to prospect interviewing, is handled with confidentiality.

The following are some attributes to look for when selecting a staffing strategist:

1- You want someone who has experience with small- to medium-sized, privately-held companies. You need someone who possesses a well-rounded understanding of the philosophy of your workforce, culture, employee relations, and business needs.

2- You want someone who knows how to position a small business to be attractive to potential applicants, and competitive against larger companies. You want someone who has experience in compensation and benefits for small business. Remember, small companies don’t have “deep pockets” like large corporations do, and it can be very tricky to craft a competitive benefit package for a small company.

3- You want someone who will take the time to research your industry and learn your business. Great staffing strategists always do this as it is essential for anticipating your needs, and effectively evaluating candidates.

4-You want some who will also handle the “back office” work in the hiring process, such as clarifying and writing a winning job description and employment contract.

Remember: Your business will only be as good as the people who work for it!

Your Office Anywhere is the first choice for professional office administration assistance as you prefer it. We enable you to focus your time on running your business instead of running your office. To learn more please visit our website www.yourofficeanywhereusa.com

By Yonah Koenig