Dear PBC…

DEAR PBC,
Help! I let an employee go today. In all honesty, this person was not working out and I should have let them go a long time ago. I know I need to hire slow and fire fast but I need some help to fill the position ASAP! Should I look at an employment agency or temp service?

Sincerely,

OPPORTUNITY IN DISGUISE

Dear Opportunity in Disguise,
It’s tough letting anyone go, and I think it is usually in the firm’s best interest to make that decision sooner rather than later, as you are finding out. Recognizing that your current team is not working is an important observation. But you are right – this tough situation is an opportunity to take the first step on the road to building a well-oiled successful team.

Working with an employment agency or temp service, like you mention in your question, is a great option. They usually take a percentage of the employee’s salary for a certain amount of time and can be quite costly up front. A nice thing about working with a service is if whoever they send you is not a fit, they will look for another candidate until you find one. It’s great if you have cash to spare and don’t have the time to find, qualify and vet out a potential hire. Price a local company and see what the cost associated with their services are, you may even consider working with more than one service as well.

Having said that, many times people don’t realize the talent that may lie within their own backyard! Start with your inner circle, close friends and family to get the word out you are hiring and the skills you are looking for specifically. Does anyone on your staff know of someone in need of a job? Like-minded people tend to hang out together, so ask around. Also, brainstorm other ideas to spread the word – any clubs you are involved in or that your family is involved in? Church? Softball league? (I’m serious)

At the same time, place ads online and anywhere you can. Watch the cost here, some can be pretty pricy so set a budget and make sure you post on an optimal day and time. Check to see if your newspaper has an online classified ad space; consider posting to Craigslist or Indeed.com and even sites like LinkedIn or Hiremymom.com.

One of the great things about the Academy is that we don’t like to reinvent the wheel, so chances are we have proven/tested ads that we can share with you. Whatever you end up using, be sure you are being specific and detailed with what you need and don’t sugarcoat anything! The more honest you are about the type of person you need in this position the less time it will save you down the road with someone who wasn’t clear about all the position entails.

Good luck and never settle! Your perfect team awaits.

Sincerely, Your Devoted PBC

Katie Rios
Practice Building Consultant (PBC)
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (800) 846-1555
www.aaepa.com