In the past, I have posted about resume blunders but I have never really blogged about the actual interviewing process. As a business owner of 3 years, I have conducted my fair share of interviews. The process of hiring, while it is exciting because it means a fresh perspective, it’s definitely not my favorite aspect of running a business. However, when I think about the experience and knowledge I have gained from it, I realize it’s been a very valuable part of the past 3 years. The 5 most important things I have learned are:

1. Always check references. Are you really going to hire someone without talking to anyone else about their work ethic, drive, motivation and previous performance? If it doesn’t work out, you have nobody to blame but yourself!

2. Unappreciative. Didn’t get a follow up email thanking you for the interview? No matter how much you liked the person, that’s a major indication of how they will handle communication and follow up with clients.

3. Late to the interview? That’s probably the biggest insult and indication of their lack of consideration for your time.

4. Jumper? 4 different jobs in the past year, each spanning for a total of 3 months? Major red flag and the sure sign of a “jumper.” Don’t fall for the phony enthusiasm because after you invest your time, energy and effort into training that person, they will already be interviewing at other companies.

5. Trust your instincts. This one is probably the most important. Don’t ignore those nagging doubts just because you are desperate for more help. Would you hire a nanny you weren’t totally comfortable with to take care of your baby? Take the same approach with the people you invite to be a part of your team.