360º: Radius Display Products

“If sales people have been involved in competitive sports activities, it shows they are used to working as part of a team and used to being successful,” he says.

Diehl also values strong character over skill sets. Ideal candidates for his fast-paced company are those with integrity and a willingness to learn new things.

He screens for that by asking about their heroes. Answers such as Mother Teresa demonstrate the candidate has a high moral stance. “My Dad – the self-made business man,” is also a good answer because it indicates that person aspires to be like his hero.

Sacks also uses interview questions to delve deeper into a candidate’s character. He’s interested in their past accomplishments, what they like to do for fun and where they see themselves in 10 years – a question that often catches them off guard.

Fringe Benefits

You’ve successfully completed the interview process and now the potential employee is asking about benefits. Many small firms aren’t financially able to provide health insurance, which can translate to more hassle and expense for the employee.

Some prospective hires, scared about the idea of having no insurance or paying high premiums, will exit at this point unless you can offer more money or have a compelling counterargument. This is the time to tout your company’s excellent work culture, training and promote-from-within programs.

Be prepared to provide resources for new hires to secure their own benefits plan. Consider building a relationship with an independent group health insurance broker or consult with your state’s department of insurance Web site to find agents and available individual health plans. Here are a couple jumping off points:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Insure Kids Now
National Association of Health Underwriters