Should you outsource your Human Resources practices?
Do you have extra time on your hands but not enough money in the budget for hiring a full-time employee? If so, then you’re in luck! From typing up forms to hand-writing letters, hire an outsourced assistant who can work for you remotely. Believe it or not, even websites will find someone whose resume matches your needs for free.
Decide when you're going to do this
If you need help in the near future, then consider outsourcing first, and only if you feel comfortable that you’ll be ready for your new hire by the time needed. Ideally, this would be done a month before your new employee is scheduled to start.
Decide how much work needs to be outsourced
If you’re planning to hire a student, a freelancer or an assistant in case of emergency, then this can be done over the phone. You’re allowed to ask the person to type up your documents and even to type up an application itself. However, if you think that you’ll have enough work for both of you, then it’s better if you hire them full-time.
Figure out how much you're willing to pay
It’s important to remember that you’ll have to pay for your outsourced assistant’s salary, taxes and other benefits, like health insurance. It is also good to include extra money for their training and two weeks of paid vacation time.
In case of emergency, freelancers are available on an hourly basis. For example, you can hire someone to type up your documents for $25 an hour. This way, you won’t have to pay them anything extra for their benefits.
Consider hiring someone who has a matching resume
If you’re planning to hire someone part-time because of emergency purposes, then it’s best if you can find someone who already has the required skills. You can hire an assistant with a matching resume by using sites like LinkedIn, Project4Hire, eLance or even Craigslist.
Consider hiring someone who is local
The important thing here is that you want to meet face-to-face with the candidates as often as possible. This way, you can have a chance to see how they act in person and how they react to the work that you need to be done for your business. Once they’ve been hired, it would be a good idea to meet with them in person once a week just so that you can see how they’re doing at the job.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that outsourcing is about finding someone else with the skills you need. Don’t use outsourcing to find out who can work for your budget or if you want to save time and energy. You might even find an assistant who can be so dedicated that he or she will work cheaply for you.
The Bottom Line
When you want to find an assistant, who is willing to work for your business, use sites like Craigslist, Project4Hire and eLance along with LinkedIn. Remember that just because you’ve found someone does not mean that they’re going to love working for you. However, if they end up being good, then this will be a successful step towards outsourcing your HR needs.