How do I successfully hire full time IM staff?

[jetson77]

Has anyone got any ideas on how to hire good staff in your IM based affiliate business?

Here's our constant dilemma. I'm hoping someone else can give me some ideas on how to find staff, train them to be autonomous and skilled, yet not giving them the tools to go away and build their own business.

This has been our constant battle. We've hired quite a few people to work full time in our office. They tend to either be hopeless, or if they are good, they see how much money you can make once you have the skills (that we give them) and they leave to start their own business.

Has anyone managed to hire someone successfully into a key position. Designers, programmers and content writers are fine. It's the more critical management positions that are hard to fill.

We've tried bonuses with some success, however, most people don't realize the costs to running a decent sized business and just see the affiliate commissions coming in and don't think much further beyond that.

Any ideas? I'd love to hear them.

Oh... if you can give me any ideas on where to find good staff, I'd appreciate that as well.

Anyone here good in front of a video camera want a job?

We're based in Australia (office on the beach if you are keen.

[Daniel Scott]

Jetson,

If people can start their own business and make more than what you are paying them, why wouldn't they? Isn't that what YOU would do?

It sounds to me like you want to run someone else to run your business for them and pay them stuff all. There's nothing wrong with wanting that, necessarily, but it's probably not going to happen.

What kind of positions are you looking to fill? Maybe we can help you more then...

-Dan

[bigtay]

This is a problem for any business, not online IM businesses. Much of the time, someone that applies for a job has the mindset of a worker and is not interested in running their own business. Nothing you can really do to defend it, though.

[SteelDanno]

Ran into this myself.

Hire people to just do specific tasks, write them SOP (Standard Operation Procedure) to follow and don't give them the opportunity to see your whole system/machine in action.

Tricky, but definitely possible.

Cheers.

[LaunchWorkshop]

All you need is a slight change in the way you're thinking. Don't hire staff then get annoyed when they leave. Set up an apprentice program to work for you as they learn how to do it themselves..
Just a thought.

Tony

[jetson77]

Good thoughts guys.

I guess the thing that gets me is that I'm the one that teaches them all the stuff I've learned over the years through trial and error. I've basically giving them my intellectual property.

I guess the only way to really hire someone into a position that oversees all the activities is through a partnership. I'm interested in this, however, I'd want someone local in Australia. Although it could work remotely. Anyone had any success with a partnership that was remote?

[reynald2790]

I know how to get your successful full time IM Staff. First of all, you must interview your applicants in order to come out with the right person who can work for her/his own self without you mandating him/her. Through that action you can say that your staff is very fast learner, and very creative enough to market or promote your product. Please view your PM from me 'coz I will give you the link on where to find your future staffs.

[edpudol1973]

Originally Posted by SteelDanno

Ran into this myself.

Hire people to just do specific tasks, write them SOP (Standard Operation Procedure) to follow and don't give them the opportunity to see your whole system/machine in action.

Tricky, but definitely possible.

Cheers.

I agree with you, this is the best thing you must do.... It's better if you assigned one job focus per person you're going to trained so that he/she only focus on that task. Or other option go to outsourcing companies.

[dreamtab]

You should employ your relatives they are less likely to complete with you.
Just my thought.

Or you may consider Virtual Assistant. As you don't need to train them they know what they can do. So your concert running away after they learn is not applicable here.

What do you think?

[lacraiger]

virtual assistants are the way to go. however communication with them is key.