| When I first started doing office management, I had | | | | could have asked, did you choose that one?" Role |
| a lot of problems finding good employees. It seemed | | | | reversal is always informative, plus the question |
| like the people I was hiring could do the work, but | | | | reveals an applicant's No. 1 priority." |
| had the wrong attitude. | | | | Treating the hiring process as a serious endeavor is |
| According to a new article in the Medical Group | | | | crucial to having a good staff. There is no absolute |
| Management Association's newsletter, I was using | | | | guarantee, but defining exactly what you're looking |
| the wrong criteria: "You should hire for attitude and | | | | for allows you the benefit of finding someone who |
| train for skills. Skills don't mitigate a bad attitude or | | | | fits your needs first and foremost. In any case, |
| disruptive personality." | | | | several of these concepts may not be of much use |
| This is completely true. I remember hiring a young | | | | when applied to situations where several family |
| woman who could juggle phones and patients | | | | members work within the same practice. |
| effortlessly, but could not stop complaining about her | | | | My first job was working weekends and every |
| salary. She felt the older employees did less and | | | | summer for my uncle, who was a general practioner. |
| made more, and she wound up trying to get her | | | | My aunt was his office manager, and part of the |
| peer coworkers to band together and stage a | | | | reason I worked there was because I earned less |
| mutiny. | | | | than minimum wage. |
| When that failed, she threatened to quit on the spot | | | | Now, I loved my aunt and uncle, and I'm grateful for |
| if I didn't give her an increase. Believe it or not, I was | | | | learning about a job so early in life that would |
| a little sorry to see her go. | | | | become my profession as an adult. But I learned |
| The article explains what I learned the hard way, and | | | | from that experience not to work in the medical |
| that's to establish a criteria for any available position. | | | | equivalent of a mom and pop store. |
| Create a prioritized list and even have those involved | | | | For one thing, as per my experience, family |
| in the interviewing process score each candidate, to | | | | businesses often pay their employees according to |
| insure objectivity. | | | | their own personal scale, and not per the industry |
| Best of all, were five questions they deemed crucial | | | | standard. This usually translates into lower pay and |
| to the process: | | | | sometimes fewer benefits. |
| "1. Tell me about the first job you ever had. Because | | | | Also, there is a close-knit bond which develops that |
| the first job they ever had could have been years | | | | can be daunting. In a sense, you become a part of |
| ago and unrelated to the one for which they're | | | | their extended family, which can make it hard to be |
| applying, applicants don't expect this question. The | | | | objective about your professional goals. |
| answer may reveal their values and ethics. | | | | On the other hand, when I worked for my uncle, he |
| 2. Tell me about the achievements in your life you're | | | | had a woman who worked the reception desk who |
| most proud of and the obstacles or problems you | | | | was having serious marital difficulties. She called in sick |
| had to overcome. The answer indicates what | | | | twice a month, but was rarely ill (if you know what I |
| motivates applicants. | | | | mean). Because my aunt liked her and had a personal |
| 3. Tell me about your last performance appraisal. An | | | | interest in the woman's marriage working out, she |
| applicant reveals his/her level of self-esteem and | | | | put up with this behavior until the woman finally just |
| feelings about another's appraisal. | | | | quit because she was moving out of state to go live |
| 4. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rank | | | | with her parents. |
| yourself as a (insert relevant term)? Then ask what | | | | My aunt had to cover her shifts until a replacement |
| it will take to get to the next number. | | | | could be found, which of course, illustrates the risk |
| 5. What one question would you like to ask me? | | | | involved for the employer in these more intimate |
| After answering, ask, "Why, of all the questions you | | | | working arrangements. |