Hiring a new employee is both an exciting and nerve-racking time, especially with the current labor shortage facing the green industry. Being prepared for the different phases you may experience can help to ease the stress of the transition process.

Stress

Looking for someone to fill a position or to take on a newly created position will most likely be causing you some headaches.  This is normal. Just be careful to not let the stress go too far. If you do, it will soak in to the rest of the company making things stressful for everyone.  This is a good experience because it means your company is growing towards better things.

Fear

The fear of hiring a person usually will come next.  You may be scared you will not find someone, or that the person you hired will not work out.  Again this is normal, but do not let it take over the process of hiring. Being scared can make current employees or the new future employee nervous.  There is someone out there for the job, it may just take a little longer than you had hoped for to find them.

Relief

By this phase you have hopefully hired someone and are feeling relief.  The weight of finding someone is lifted off your shoulders. But this is no time to take a mini vacation from all your hard work.  This person still needs to be properly trained and monitored to ensure they are a good fit for the company. Don’t slack off just because you finally found someone.  Be prepared with a plan on how you want to train the new employee and set goals you’d like the new employee to reach within the first 6 months to a year.

Excitement

Once the new guy is settled in, it can be pretty exciting.  They may have new ideas, new processes, or just a new attitude that is helping the company grow. Use their new ideas and be open to them, but remember not to overwhelm them.  Don’t let your excitement overwork the new employee. They still need time to adjust and grow within the company so if you use up too much of their “newness” they may become drained pretty quickly.

The hiring process is different for everyone.  You may experience all of these phases, you may only experience one.  Just remember, the hiring process is a change that the company must adjust to.  Take your time and be sure to find the right fit for your company. They can be a real asset for the future of your company.