The Search Begins

After many many months of saying I need production help but hesitating on making the final move I've finally gotten my act in gear and begun the search. I'm trying to avoid the mistake I made last year of saying that I'd hire on help in the late summer only to realize that by that time of year I'm too busy with production for the Fall (major tradeshows) and Holiday season that I don't have the time to train someone. My hope is this year to bring someone on part-time early second quarter so that by the time things really get rolling full-steam in the summer I have someone who knows exactly what's going on. And if things get busy enough I can have them work on the very technical aspects of my products and hire other folks to work on the more basic steps.

Now though begins the tough part of finding the right person to help me out. Is it wrong to say that I'm hoping the slowing economy makes it easier to find the right someone? I already approached one woman I know through another entrepreneur but haven't heard anything back so I'm going to begin the search next week by posting with the local community colleges and if that doesn't work then go the Craigslist route since the type of position I'm trying to fill is more of a "work with your hands" then "sit at a desk" type job.

The trouble is that while my work is technically challenging to the right person, I think that my product category - since it falls just outside the norm - may scare off any skilled community college kids which is why I think I may end up going the Craigslist route. Ideally I'd love to hire a stay-at-home mom who wants to make some extra money since the hours I need help would be during school hours - someone who is responsible, has attention-to-detail, and is not necessarily going to flit off one day because the coffee shop down the street just hired the "omg cutest boy eva and I could like totally work with him and then he'd fall in love with me and we can spend all day reciting poetry to one another." But we'll have to see what the job search turns up.

The good news is that I'm pretty sure the hourly rate I'd be willing to pay - to the right person - is a little higher then the industry norm and, from what I've heard, other hourly positions in the area. I do believe in paying the right people well and, god willing we turn a profit, also letting them partake in a bit of the company's success, but it is a nerve-wracking position to be at that point where cash is tight (as always), be thinking of hiring someone which will be an added expense and - the hardest part for control-freak me - trusting that I can hire someone who will be able to have the same focus on product quality as I do. Not to mention the uncertainty that I'll be able to adequately manage someone so that they're motivated, challenged, and want to do their best possible work for me.

Though I can't lie that I'm also finding huge irony in the fact that someone (or people) working for me will be drawing a larger salary out of the company then I am.