Top tips for SMME recruiting

24 July 2018 00:00

Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) conducting their own recruitment may carry higher risk of bad hiring choices than larger firms using recruitment specialists, unless they set systems in place to reference and vet prospective candidates. This is according to Rudi Kruger, general manager of LexisNexis Data Services.

“Hiring of unqualified or corrupt staff has a negative impact on all companies but can be exceptionally damaging for smaller firms who don’t have the capacity to absorb the impact of an unsuitable or unqualified employee, or one who is unscrupulous,” he said.

Kruger added that an organisation’s employees are its key asset - but can be its biggest liability too. “Recruiting staff who are ill equipped to carry out a job function can result in poor performance, financial losses and lower staff morale,” he said. “Giving unscrupulous staff who have not been correctly vetted access to confidential company information can result in misconduct or fraud which small enterprises may not able to recover from.”

With a pro-active approach, SMMEs can set policies in place to reduce their risks and ensure confidence when hiring new candidates. Kruger suggests the following tips:

Choose reliable and trustworthy channels for advertising positions

Placing of advertisements on reputable recruitment or business sites within your target demographic will generate a better response from suitable candidates than random mass media placements. “Add this list to your checklist to ensure that this is where you source candidates from in future,” says Kruger.

Create background checking policies for all hiring

Small companies should develop a screening checklist detailing the standard procedure for hiring. This will go a long way in preventing unqualified or unscrupulous candidates from being appointed. The checklist should include checking:

Academic and matric qualifications
ID verification
Employment history
Fraud listing
Criminal record
Credit report
Additional items could include drivers’ license or professional driving permit and bank account verification, citizenship verification, fit and proper screening, rapid personality questionnaires and where relevant a business background search.

Using a reliable screening tool like Lexis® RefCheck takes the guess work out of where to find the necessary information required to fulfil these criteria. Lexis RefCheck provides small businesses with an affordable way to perform the necessary checks on future employees and empowers them with information and facts during the critical recruitment process. For more information, visit https://www.lexisnexis.co.za/lexisrefcheck

About Rudi Kruger

Rudi Kruger is the General Manager of LexisNexis Data Services. He is responsible for African and International risk solutions. He has 11 years banking experience with strong focus on trade services, risk and compliance. He successfully completed various courses within the banking industry, as well as IOB Certificate in banking and completed a MAP program at WBS in 2014. Rudi is responsible for the execution of new business development, strategy and sustainable growth, by introducing new products offering and enhancements to the Sub Saharan African market

About LexisNexis Data Services

LexisNexis Data Services helps uncover the information that commercial organisations and government agencies need to get a complete picture of individuals, businesses and assets with industry-leading data and analytic solutions.  With solutions such as Lexis ProcureCheck, Lexis Diligence, Lexis RefCheck and Lexis WinDeed, the division’s specialised risk-management tools make it easier for organisations to carry out background screening of individuals and organisations, searches of public record information, due diligence and property vetting. LexisNexis Data Services quickly and efficiently delivers specific, in-depth information gathered across thousands of unique data sources to address industry-specific needs.

LexisNexis is part of RELX Group and serves customers in more than 175 countries with 10,000 employees worldwide.  In July 2012, investment firm Tsiya Group, chaired by Fani Titi, acquired a minority interest in LexisNexis South Africa. Tsiya is a privately-owned investment group that was established in 2008 and focuses on acquiring interests in unlisted businesses.

For more on LexisNexis Data Services visit:

www.lexisnexis.co.za/data-services.