Marty's Mailbox

Hiring is a skill you need to master to be successful. Years ago I was awful at it. I'm not perfect, but I do have a system. Here are some of the criteria I follow and questions I ask when interviewing for management positions:

Two suggestions I'm finding winning companies follow:

1) Do a background check – several companies in your area do that.

2) Send the candidate in for a personality test – check out http://www.chally.com for ideas.

Questions to ask:

1) Why should I hire you?

2) Give me an example of a problem or conflict that arose in your last job with a co-worker and tell me how you resolved it.

3) Tell me about a company you have done business with that impressed you and why they impressed you.

4) Where do you see yourself in two years? Five years?

5) What's important to you in a job?

6) How many hours a week do you think one should work?

7) What do you do for fun?

8)  Who are the three most important people in your life?

9) What traits should one look for in an employee?

10) Who has been a mentor to you in your career and what did you learn from them?

11) Do you see anything around here that you would change right away?

12) Tell me about so me successful landscaping companies that you have seen.

13) If you had a dream job, what would it be?

14) Define professionalism.

Other ideas:

1) Have him or her talk to your Board of Advisors

2) Have him or her talk to your other managers

3) Most importantly, listen to him or her and let him or her talk

Remember – the key to success is a team of good people. You cannot do it all by yourself.

The author is president of Grunder's Landscaping and the Winner's Circle, Miamisburg, Ohio.