Whether you are hiring a stable hand or a riding instructor, your horse business deserves the best hiring process possible. Interviews for horse business employees should be designed to conduct thorough evaluations of the applicant.
Yes, it is possible to make a mistake with horse business employees even if you ask all the right questions in the interview. However, it’s much less likely.
Preparing for the Interview
A horse business owner needs to do her homework before she interviews potential employees. She should collect resumes from candidates, review the data, and eliminate applicants whose experience, education or qualifications do not meet her needs.
My advice is to contact the remaining candidates before the interview to request references if they aren’t provided on the resume. Go ahead and check references—it only takes a few minutes per phone call—before you schedule a face-to-face. In some cases, references alone will allow you to weed out a few more applicants.
You’ll also want to decide where you want to conduct interviews. I recommend the barn office if you have one. It provides a professional environment in which to talk with potential horse business employees.
Your final interview preparation task should involve writing down questions you want to ask. Never go into an interview without knowing what you’ll talk about; this will eliminate awkward silences and will keep you on your toes if you’re nervous.
During the Interview
Wear professional clothing and conduct yourself like a business owner. This means greeting the applicants and taking charge of the conversation from the beginning.
Start by filling in the potential horse business employee on the job and his or her prospective duties. Explain the environment in which he or she will work and any pertinent information about your business. Keep it short, but provide as many details as possible.
Go over the applicant’s resume and ask any questions about the details. You might need to clarify points or ask the candidate to expound upon a former role. Make sure you get in all the questions about the resume as possible.
After you’ve covered the resume, move on to questions about the applicant’s potential role in your horse business. Situational questions are great (e.g. “How would you handle things if…”), and you might want to throw in a few questions about the candidate’s work style and personality.
Make sure you invite the candidate to ask any questions he might have about the job or about your horse business. Make it a two-way conversation so you can get a feel for how you would work together. Take notes the entire time so you don’t forget any of your observations.
After the Interview
Go over your notes as soon as you conclude each interview for horse business employees. This will keep it all fresh in your mind and allow you to jot down additional impressions as they occur to you.
It is very important that you conduct all the interviews on your schedule. Don’t jump to hire someone because you “click” or because you feel he or she really needs a job. Wait until all the interviews are over so you can make an informed decision.
You’ll Catch On
The first time I interviewed potential horse business employees, I practically sweated through my breeches. Candidates are nervous before interviewers, but so are the hiring managers, so expect your nerves to take over from time to time.
Eventually, however, you’ll perfect your interview skills.
Check back tomorrow for sample interview questions for horse business employees of all kinds.
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About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Chief Equestrian Officer of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. She believes that any horse business can succeed provided its owner practices smart strategy.
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