As we continue to learn how to mold our lives around COVID practices, more pressure than ever is being placed on hiring staff in the fuel industry. It’s no secret that you want to find people who are well-suited for a position at your service station, not only those that are competent in the workplace but also people who share your values and fit into your culture.
Here’s how you can hire people who will be great assets to your team:
1. Use the same framework for each interview.
You can’t rely on gut instinct alone to make hiring decisions. The best way to avoid this is by implementing a framework for the interview process where you use the same questions and skill tests for each candidate. This method gives them all a fair shot.
2. Ease up on the ‘first strike’ policy.
It’s normal (and beneficial) to have high standards surrounding the hiring process, but during a high-stress time, it might serve you better to ditch the ‘first strike and you’re out’ policy. You should still be diligent about competence, aptitude, skills, and experience, but try not to sweat small mistakes.
3. Resist the urge to lowball.
You might find that candidates have lower salary expectations than what you’re used to seeing. It can be tempting to take advantage of this, but try not to. The salary and benefits for the position at your service station should speak to the market rate for that role, not an individual’s willingness to settle for lower pay. You may need to pay above award wage to employ the best candidates.
4. Always verify references.
Since you want to hire people fast, you might feel like skipping out on the reference check – but don’t fall into this trap. Take the time to check out references, as they can give you insight on a candidate’s experience and the unique ways that they can contribute to your service station.
5. Be flexible with the start date.
Right now, the job market is uncertain. If you want to be a candidate’s top choice, make sure to be flexible about a new hire’s start date – they might need to give more or less notice to their employer than they would in precedented times.
Hiring For Your Service Station
Use these five strategies to make the right decisions when hiring for your service station, and you’ll surely find people who can help your business succeed. If you need help around interviewing staff or need some ideas on the best questions to ask contact us.