Running an eCommerce business can be a challenging and rewarding experience, but it’s not something you can do alone. If you’re looking to grow your business and take it to the next level, you may be considering hiring a new team member. But before you post a job opening, it’s important to consider a few key factors to ensure you find the right person for the job. In this blog post, we’ll explore a checklist of questions to help you get started on your search for the best eCommerce talent.
1. Preparing to hire Top talent for your eCommerce business:
It all begins with a clear understanding of the role you need to fill. You might assume that a Virtual Assistant is who you require, when in fact, what your business truly needs is a marketing specialist. What you ‘want’ or the tasks you wish to be completed may not be what your business ‘needs’ at the moment.
Take some time to consider the goal you want to achieve for your business. What would make the most significant difference in reaching or exceeding this goal? Compile a list of the most critical tasks that must be completed to achieve this goal. Consider what the new person’s output will be.
What will they be held accountable for? How will you assess their success? You may now begin constructing your new hire profile. Here is a list of questions to consider:
- What duties do you require the individual to undertake?
- What are their outputs/what will they produce on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis?
- What skills/experience will they require?
- How will you determine their success?
- What is the position’s usual name?
- What are the differences/specific requirements for this role in your eCommerce business?
- What personal traits are you seeking? Consider what you like about people and what frustrates you. Do you prefer someone who is outgoing, energetic, always coming up with new ideas, or calm and detail-oriented for this particular position?
- What about Location? Do they need to be in a specific geographical area or time zone? Although most eCommerce and Amazon businesses have a remote setup, they still have team members from the same regions/countries. Expand your horizons – if you search in the right places, you will find some incredibly talented individuals with incredible skills. Consult with your partner lawyers about the potential of hiring overseas.
- What will be the salary/budget? If it’s difficult to assess – check out similar positions, look for salary guides/surveys for the areas/skills you wish to recruit, inquire with other business owners or simply seek assistance from a hiring service provider.
2. And then it’s time to design your hiring process:
Will you do the process yourself or hire an eCommerce/Amazon hiring service? If you choose to do it yourself and take care of everything from writing the job post, attracting the right candidates, reviewing and filtering, testing and interviewing, you need a clear plan!
Imagine an eCommerce sales funnel, where you attract many candidates at the top and narrow down to the best candidate.
Here is a checklist of questions to guide you:
- How will you attract the right candidates? Consider posting on specific job boards, contacting recommendations, and reaching out to those with previous Amazon/ecom experience.
- What is your preferred method for candidates to apply? (Linkedin, email, application form, etc.)
- How will you review and filter the applications? How will you test them and ensure an unbiased opinion?
- How will you manage communications with the applicants? Keep in mind that your employer brand may suffer if you fail to provide timely and accurate feedback. Consider using an Applicant Tracking System: these are software tools designed to track and manage hiring for roles, acting as a supercharged application form and review tool.
- How many interviews do you need, and what questions will you ask to determine their fit for the role? Use your homework from the preparation phase to draft them.
- What timeline should you set up for your business and communicate to the candidates, and how long will the hiring process take from start to finish?
To summarise, hiring the best eCommerce talent is a critical step in growing your business. By taking the time to carefully consider your needs and priorities and setting up a well thought through hiring process you can find the right person for the job and set your business up for long-term success. Use these checklists as a starting point for your search and don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way.
Happy hiring!
