Hire Right To Franchise Bright

Investing in a franchise business is undoubtedly an important decision for an aspiring entrepreneur. Having taken that decision and selecting a franchise business, next task of an entrepreneur is to start the hiring process. Hiring requires intensive scrutiny. Being new to the franchise business, the franchisee finds it difficult to hire efficient staff. The article highlights some mediums and tips for such franchisees to conduct the hiring process smoothly.

Search for employees

Though there is no dearth of qualified youth in the country, but qualification is not the only criterion of selection. With advanced technology, various mediums are available that a franchisee can use to inform people about the hiring process conducted for his franchised outlet. Websites like naukri.com and his own website besides print medium like newspapers, magazines or journals can serve the purpose. Also, references from friends and relatives are also a good idea to hire staff.  However, the best place for franchisees to look for potential employees can be career fairs, franchise fairs, franchise expo and events. Franchise and career fairs provide platform to the young aspirants looking for lucrative job opportunities.

Let us now have a look at the various tips to be considered while hiring the staff for the franchised outlet.

Recruiting employees

Recruiting the right employee for any top franchise outlet depends on various factors. While selecting potential candidates for your new franchised centre, take a note of the following points:

Franchisor’s support a must: As franchisees are mostly novices in the business, many franchisors assist their franchisees in recruiting employees. Franchisors being more experienced and aware can shortlist the prospective candidates that can be sent for the final interview with the franchisee. Viral Nandu, Director, Sanitary Division, Euro Ceramics Limited shares, “We help our franchisee by providing him two experienced sales persons from the head office. These people have adequate knowledge and know how to deal with customers. Other employees can be selected by the franchisee himself.”

Recruitment based on industry: The recruitment of the staff by the franchisees is also influenced by the industry. Certain franchise businesses require specialised staff.  Therefore, franchisees need to take care of the industry while hiring his staff. As informed by Sam Chora, Director, Re/MAX India, “Real Estate business being local in nature needs more of regional people who understand the area well. First of all we train the local franchisees in our head office to make him aware of the business and its running. We also help in short listing employees for the franchisee’s outlet. Our HR team visit web portals, job consultants of that particular city and select people who later on are interviewed by the franchisee.”

Identify jobs and duties: Before going in for recruitment process, the franchisee should define the different jobs and duties in his outlet, which require employees. There can be a few jobs in which the franchisee is more suitable. If the franchisee himself is an MBA in marketing or has done a course in accounts, then an accountant is really not needed in his outlet. Initially all franchisees are strapped for money, so keeping extra employees is not recommended. Fill up vacancies which really need employees.

Recruit qualified work force: In the beginning of running an outlet, the franchisee may be having few financial problems. Many franchisees at that time make the mistake of employing not-so-qualified candidates to save a few pennies. This can lead to major problems at the later stages. Franchisees should always opt for well-qualified and experienced employees.

Appearances are not deceptive: The way a candidate is dressed up says a lot. Any retail franchise or even servicing business requires well-dressed and well-behaved employees. Potential employees who have good qualifications but are not well-kept should not be employed by franchisees.

Past experience: Another way of selecting the right employee is by doing a little research on their past records. Many candidates may get false certificates and references from companies they have not worked in. Therefore, never take any employee only on reference. Franchisees can themselves or can employ trustworthy people to find out about the past experiences of the potential employees.

Pleasing quality of candidates: Satisfying customer is the main motto of both product and service franchised outlets. Therefore, it is necessary to recruit employees with good conversation skills who can handle difficult clients easily. Keeping a short-tempered sales man in an apparel outlet for women will be a bad idea as customers may not feel comfortable with his services

Last but not the least is to trust your instincts. Selecting a franchisee depending on his face value can jeopardise your franchise business. Hiring is as important as investing in any franchise business opportunity. Therefore, go ahead and recruit employees carefully.