Iit really depends upon what you want from your business.
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i would steer clear of your neighbours son for a start.
1. if it goes wrong you will most likely have problems with your neighbours (whatever happens they will sympathise with their son)
2. if he's talking about walking out on his current employee he is likely to do the same to you when the going gets tough.
Two very good points well made. This bloke is 34 and has been with his current employer man and boy, started dong saturday work when he was 14.. point 1 is the one I never really thought through… Probably a deal breaker..
it's really easy to employ people who you already know but in my own experience it has led to problems further down the line.
it's too easy to miss things out that you would normally say to an emplyee, or to go easy on them or give them the benefit of the doubt on things. as you already know them, they may not take well to your becoming their boss either, but youll only know that when something starts to go wrong...
one of the main things i look for is a work history of being in jobs no less than 3 years at a time. rules out loads of problem people, and jpob hoppers too. if you're a bad employee, or unreliable, or slack, you wont tend to last more than a year before you get kicked out or you walk out. one of the best things to do is get poeple to apply by CV and then dont speak to them, but ruthlessly rule them out on their CV alone. any emplyment gaps or moving from job to job, reject them. the trick is not to speak to them though. just do it off their CV. people will justify anything that has happened and itll sound plausible. it's also in people's nature to believe people, so youre judgement will be compromised.