The second method is to determine the actual tasks that need to be accomplished, regardless of currently defined jobs in your company, and the skills required to perform those tasks. Then you can match skill needs against the skills of the people you currently have on staff and identify the gaps to be filled. You may just need additional training for existing personnel. However, if you still need additional people, you will have a clear idea of the types of people required. Use this information to write a good job description and you will be ready to move forward with your recruiting and hiring plans.

In a competitive hiring market, where do you go to find good people? There are many sources, beginning with the classic ad in the local newspaper. Nowadays, however, a better source may be the internet. Job boards and hiring sites such as Monster.com are resources many job seekers use, especially in this Age of the Internet, so check them out. There are also many sources of professional assistance that may very well be worth the investment. If you have a business or management consultant you work with regularly, start with them. There are also employment consultants and employment/recruiting firms. Check it out before you reject the idea based on the expense. Balance the cost against what it saves in your time and hiring headaches as well as the quality of the people they bring to your attention.

We are also working on a new series of offerings on the financial side of running a business. These will be offered soon, beginning with every business owner's favorite - Cash Flow. Interested? Let us know and we will alert you as soon as the schedule is available. Email us at info@nextstepsolutions.com.