Astute employers observe how changes in the professional labor market can affect their businesses. They take the time to define carefully what kind of employee they need, now and in the future. They avoid legal pitfalls that plague other employers.

They use all the hiring strategies available, formal and informal, to increase their chances for hiring the best workers, while reducing the risk of committing to inferior workers. They use the hiring process itself to begin the integration process. And when they bring the best workers on board, they listen and respond to their needs and offer them opportunities to share in the growth and success of the business.

Smart employers realize that employees are their most valuable asset – human capital that will sustain businesses for years to come. The key to hiring and keeping the best workers is to begin with an honest assessment of the situation: the business environment, your company’s place in it, and the real needs of your company, now and in the future. A thorough assessment will help ensure an effective search.

With all that in mind, keep these ten things in mind during the hiring process:

1. Begin with an honest assessment of the company’s real needs – now and in the future.

2. Use the actual process of writing a job description that is not just a grocery list – really clarify the talent your company needs.

3. Use all appropriate channels to find the best candidates. Don’t forget to ask those already working in your company – especially if they are doing well.

4. Carefully match company criteria with the candidate’s characteristics. Make sure the candidates have a high level of skills, high personal standards and are compatible with the company culture.

5. It’s generally better to promote from within the company. The benefits of gaining loyalty and boosting morale are significant, while the disadvantages can be managed.

6. Watch how candidates present themselves. Resumes should be neat and well organized and candidates should communicate well during the interview.

7. For a company seeking new employees, both short term technical requirements and the longer-term leadership/managerial skills called for, determine the best candidate for a given position.

8. An employee who communicates well in other languages and cultures is a vital asset, a global ambassador for any global company.

9. Pay attention to Equal Employment opportunity laws. Ask candidates only appropriate questions and do not discriminate illegally.

10. Some positions can benefit from permanently hiring an effective temporary. Make sure you cooperate with the agency’s hiring policy or the company’s relationship with the agency could be damaged.

Many companies are being extra careful in hiring new direct staff. The emphasis is on quality. But that also means competition for the best people will get increasingly stiff. Companies that take too long in their hiring process will be left without the best employees.

Just my random thoughts.