Preparing for the hiring process

Taking the time to carefully plan the hiring process is important and ensures you hire an employee with the right mix of skills and characteristics for the job.

The good faith requirements of the Employment Relations Act 2000 are very important during recruitment. Job applicants and employers need to communicate openly and honestly with each other to avoid disappointment, misunderstandings, unmatched expectations, and problems later on. You may need to consider government policy and legislation in a wide range of areas, including immigration, health and safety, human rights, skills development, disclosure and privacy at each stage of the hiring process:

  • describing the job
  • attracting suitable applicants
  • interviewing
  • choosing the best applicant
  • making the offer and finalising the employment agreement
  • induction and settling the employee into their job.

Planning the hiring process

Organisations often say that their employees are their biggest asset. A mistake during your planning can be costly and damage the future employment relationship.

You should plan to make sure:

  • you have a clear idea of all the costs of hiring someone. See our checklist.
  • you follow a clear, consistent employment process
  • you have identified the real requirements and skills needed for the job and clearly communicated these to all job applicants
  • the privacy and confidentiality of applicants is maintained
  • advertising, selection and hiring decisions are made fairly, and not on unlawful grounds, for example, discrimination on the basis of race, gender, marital or family status, age, religion or belief
  • communications with applicants are clear, with no outstanding areas of uncertainty
  • offers of employment and employment agreements are in writing
  • negotiation for an employment agreement is fair and complies with the Employment Relations Act 2000
  • there is an induction process giving the employee a fair chance of reaching the expected standard of performance.

If you are short of time, or the hiring process seems too difficult, you could use a recruitment agency. They can manage advertising, reviewing applications, interviews, and give you advice on what you should pay or how much experience you should look for.

First-time employers

If this is your first employee, you are required to register as an employer with Inland Revenue, which will also advise ACC that you have become an employer. You can get a guide for first-time employers (external link) and advice from them.

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