While you're interviewing job applicants for a position, they're busy sizing up the job and deciding how it matches to their personality and skills. It's your job as you identify good candidates to learn a little about what might motivate them to accept the position, and then accentuate the qualities and benefits of the job that would appeal to them.

What's in it for them?
"Sell" the position by emphasising skills that match the candidate, such as:

Leadership Problem solving Listening Organisational effectiveness Teamwork

Interpersonal skills Oral communication Creative thinking Negotiation

OK, they're on board. Now what?
To get employees off to a fast start, you need to set them up with the tools to be an autonomous member of your team. The most powerful tool is independence; it develops confidence and allows an employee to do the job well.

A checklist for getting new employees off to a fast start:

• Provide a tour with introductions
• Make sure that employees are properly trained in how to use necessary equipment (don't forget phone and computer instructions, along with passwords for utilising company-specific resources)
• Provide copies of policies, procedures, handbooks and benefits package
• Allow time and opportunity for questions/feedback
• Provide a phone and e-mail list
• Make yourself available for further Q&A
• Assign a mentor or buddy

Design an orientation process that will help new employees understand how their jobs fit into the "big picture"
When people understand the role they play in the grand scheme of things, they're less likely to develop feelings of frustration with their positions and responsibilities. They understand that their job impacts the company and ensures its success.

During the orientation process:

• Share the company's mission and values
• Invite the employee to visit the company Web site to get a better "feel" for the company
• Give the employee time to review policies, procedures and handbooks, including the opportunity for questions
• Clarify the organisation's goals
• Define the team's goals and how they fit into the big picture
• Explain how other team members might impact the employee's individual job

Plan to attend one of SkillPath's upcoming seminars to learn more skills and techniques you can use the very next day back at work.