Hiring: try them out on contract first

Hiring the wrong employee can turn into a nightmare. What if there was a way to try a new hire out before making a final decision? Well there is—hire them first on a contract or temp basis.

Suppose you have interviewed a number of people for a position in your department, and one looks like a good fit. It also seems that the potential employee is positive about the job. Rather than make an offer of permanent employment, suggest that he or she come on board for a period of, say, one to six months (depending on the nature of the job and the job level) under contract. During that time both you and the employee can see how it is to work together. You can observe how the person interacts with others in the department as well as how quickly they learn.

At the same time, the employee can become acquainted with the company's culture and the people.

When you make this offer, point out the advantages to both parties. If you make the rate of pay for the temporary period comparable to what they will earn if they take the permanent job, the candidate won't lose out financially on the deal.

If the candidate refuses this option...well, perhaps that tells you something in itself.