6.8. Avoid Snap-Judgment Hiring

Don't hire the first person who walks through the door. Take your time; a couple of weeks are not too long to wait. Interview your top 5 or 10 candidates a second time. Give them tests—spelling, simple math, copyediting. Have them compose a business letter on your office computer. Check their references.

If you are hiring someone to manage your web sites or blogs or fill other roles in which technical expertise is required, make sure the applicant has those skills. Check out other web sites the person has built. Visit the person's blog. You may even test the candidate by having him or her build a sample web site for you or build a PowerPoint presentation or create a spreadsheet. Take the candidate's skills for a test drive, to make sure the person has the qualifications to do the job.

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