Great Ideas for your Small Business:
Look Far and Wide for the Best Person
Finding the right person to help run your small business may mean hiring an out-of-towner and paying to relocate that person. Relocation involves a myriad of financial and emotional issues for both you and your employee. It’s a complex and expensive process.
Finding a comparable and comfortable place to live is important, but a positive relocation depends on many factors, according to Maryanne Rainone, vice president of Hey- man Associates, a Manhattan executive search firm. “We talk to thousands of job candidates, and you get to know what kind of things are red lights for a prospective employee,” said Rainone.
She said it’s important to ask job candidates if they’ve thought about relocation even before the first interview. If their résumés show they’ve gone to school and worked in only one state, they are probably not good candidates for a major move. “Make sure the candidate is open to moving before you get too interested, because sometimes companies fall in love with one person and end up comparing everyone to the candidate they can’t get,” she said.
By law, you can’t ask a job candidate if they are married or have children, but you can ask if they have any family issues affecting a relocation. At this point, most people will tell you whether they need a good nursery school or a nursing home for their mother. “Elder care is a big issue now and one of the primary reasons people can’t leave where they are,” said Rainone.
Even if you aren’t using an executive search firm, Rainone suggests calling a relocation consultant to collect vital information about schools, real estate prices, and quality-of-life issues in your town. She also recommends looking locally before you look elsewhere. You may be able to hire a wonderful person by offering a higher salary, rather than paying all the relocation expenses to hire an out-of-towner.
Being aware of spousal issues is also important to a successful relocation. If the trailing spouse will have a tough time finding work or adjusting to life in your town, the relocation could prove to be a disaster, Rainone warns. Remember, you are not just recruiting one person—you are recruiting an entire family.