One of the key ingredients of a successful business is having a high-performing team. No matter how incredible the product or service is or how effective the business model is, a capable team is needed to make the company profitable. Even if you’re the most skilled business leader, you need a team behind you to turn your vision into reality.

But here’s the catch. Finding the perfect team member isn’t as easy as it sounds. Hiring skilled individuals is not the same as finding someone who is the perfect fit for the business. You need to have the right recruitment and onboarding systems to find them so they can help you take the business to greater success.

In this article, I want to help you find the perfect team member. You’ll learn why a proper recruitment and onboarding system is important. You’ll also get actionable tips to lead the right people to your business - plus a strategy to help you streamline the whole process.

Importance of a Recruitment and Onboarding System

Did you know that 1.1 million people changed jobs from February 2023 to February 2024? Apparently, the most common reason they left their job is because they wanted a better job. But that’s not the reason why I’m stating this statistic.

In the current labour market, the average business has to spend more than $20,000 to hire an employee. This cost includes the cost of advertising job openings, recruiting a person, setting them up in the workplace, onboarding them into their roles, etc.

What does this mean?

Since you’re already investing that much money to hire someone new, make sure you’re getting the perfect team member.

The best way to do that is by ensuring you have a proper recruitment and onboarding process. There are three reasons why this is important.

For a strong foundation

A new hire needs a strong foundation to settle into their roles properly. This foundation has nothing to do with their skills. It’s about giving them the right information to help them understand their role and how it relates to everyone else on the team.

It’s about getting the new hire acquainted with the work culture so they can conduct themselves properly. They’ll know what values are of utmost importance. This will allow the new hire to settle and determine the trajectory of their future in the business.

For lower turnovers

When recruits find their spot where they feel valued, they are more likely to see a future with the company. This lowers the turnover rate. You’ll get a capable team member who’s willing to invest their time and professional growth to support the business.

This will help the company save in the long run. You won’t have to spend money to hire and train someone else. You can just focus on cultivating the people you hire and making sure they have what they need to function in their respective roles.

For better productivity

If you have a proper recruitment and onboarding system, the new hire will know what is expected of them. They’ll know the values they should develop so they can represent the company well. They have a better understanding of the business processes they are a part of.

This is important for a new hire to work in perfect collaboration with the rest of the team - leading to better output and higher productivity.

Tips to Find the Perfect Team Member

Finding the perfect team member doesn’t just happen. You have to set up the right circumstances to attract the right people to apply for the vacant position in your company. Of all the applicants, how can you ensure that you’re attracting, not just talented professionals but also those with the right personality to fit the workplace culture?

Here are tips you can implement in your business.

Define the perfect team member

Before you send out a job ad, ask yourself first, who is the perfect team member? It’s not just about the skills. What kind of characteristics do you want them to have? Look at the job requirements, the people they’ll be working with and the overall expectations the business would expect from the new hire.

Make a list of the characteristics needed to fulfil their roles. While you can train them, having someone who naturally fits the role will help recruits settle into the role easily.

Set up an effective recruitment system

There are many ways to get applicants. You can hire a recruitment agency. Or you can your VA post a job ad on LinkedIn and other recruitment platforms.

Just like a sales funnel, you need to consider what the applicant will go through to get hired. You want to provide them with a streamlined recruitment system that’s effective and easy to follow. Keep it simple and make sure the right people are screening applicants.

Provide a clear job description

Try to be thorough when describing the role so people will know if they are qualified or not. This will filter the applicants from the get-go and save you time as well.

Although you have to be clear with the job ad, that doesn't mean you need a lengthy description. Keep the description concise so applicants will read through the whole thing and not just gloss over it.

Come up with a structured interview process

Be ready with a structured interview process for those who will get far into the application process. The goal of the interview is to get to know the applicant. It’s not just about their skills. You also want to uncover their personality.

During the interview, both sides will have their best foot forward. It’s up to you to craft the right questions to reveal the characteristics of the applicant so you can determine if they are perfect for the job.

Be upfront with company values

As you’re interviewing the applicant, be upfront with the company values. You want to ensure that they’re willing to abide by the rules and develop the values so it reflects on how they do their work.

In case it seems like they lack the right values and yet you still want to hire them, you can add the right training during their onboarding.

Discuss expectations

This is for both. The applicant should know the expectations the company has on them once they are onboarded. At the same time, the applicant should be allowed to air their expectations from the company. Let them discuss what they expect to gain from the company once they join the team.

This will allow you to identify and clarify these expectations - and maybe get clues on how to improve the work environment.

Have a thorough onboarding process

If the applicant passes the recruitment process and you’ve decided to hire them, be ready with a thorough onboarding process. This should include a history of the company and a more detailed explanation of the position they will fill.

Discuss the business operations and the workflow. This will give the recruit a better understanding of how things work. It’ll also help them recognise where they fit in the process.

Include KPIs in the onboarding and talk about the team they’ll work with or encounter. Document the onboarding process so it's consistent with all new hires.

Review regularly

Your recruitment and onboarding process will change over time as the business evolves. You have to constantly review and upgrade your methods to ensure you’re getting the right people to join the team.

You can also ask your current team members for feedback so you’ll know what they need to function as an exceptional team.

How a Coach Streamlines the Recruitment Process

The recruitment and onboarding system is an integral part of any business. The truth is, you’ll probably fail to get it right the first time or you’ll fail to improve it as the business grows. This is unavoidable - but it’s not something to worry about if you’re working with the right experts.

I’m not just talking about the recruitment agencies you’re working with - if any. I’m talking about having a business coach working with you internally to streamline the recruitment process.

You see, a business coach has the expertise and experience to guide you through several recruitment strategies. They can tailor-fit the strategy to suit the specific needs of your business and the team needed to make it thrive.

A business coach can also help create a template for the job descriptions that will attract more applicants. It’s their job to study the industry and understand how teams work and collaborate. This gives them the insight to determine the right job ad that resonates with high-quality candidates.

With their help, you can implement the best industry practices when it comes to recruiting and onboarding new team members. They’ll teach you how to interview and assess candidates. They’ll also help you create a thorough and objective hiring process to make sure you’re only hiring people that’ll fit perfectly in your business.

More importantly, a business coach will encourage you towards continuous improvement. They’ll be there to help evaluate and improve the recruitment and onboarding process so it keeps up with industry trends and standards.

Hire Only the Best for Your Business

Recruiting and onboarding the perfect team member requires a proper strategy that’s customised for the specific needs of your business. It’s not just about hiring qualified individuals. It’s about getting someone who’s able to mould themselves to work harmoniously with the rest of the team and go with the flow of operations in the business.

This requires careful planning and a greater understanding of the recruitment and onboarding process - which is why hiring a professional to help hire the best people for the business is beneficial.

Among the people you can get to streamline your hiring process is a business coach. They can help you attract the perfect team member to bring your business to the next level.

If you’d like to know more about building a high-performing team, let’s talk. Book a complimentary 15-minute call here: https://www.butleradvisory.com.au/time-with-trent.