215: The Hiring Hat

What does it take to hire the right people for your growing business? In this episode of The Hats Podcast, Melissa Dumaz and Kerri Harper-Howie put on The Hiring Hat and explore one of the biggest steps in growing a business: building a team you can trust. Drawing from Kerri's experience as an employment attorney and franchise business owner, she shares what she looks for beyond a résumé, how she evaluates culture and role fit, and why curiosity can reveal so much about a candidate. Melissa also reflects on her first experience hiring a virtual assistant and the lessons she learned about setting expectations, maintaining professional boundaries, and knowing when a working relationship is no longer the right fit. Together, they discuss the responsibility employers carry throughout the hiring process, from clearly communicating the role to asking appropriate interview questions and creating a structured, legally sound process. In this episode, you'll learn: What to look for beyond a candidate's résumé How to assess whether someone fits the role, team, and company culture Why clear expectations and professional boundaries matter from the beginning How leading with your heart can affect hiring decisions Why reviewing fewer strong candidates can lead to a better hiring process As your business grows, there may come a time when doing everything yourself is no longer sustainable. Learning how to hire, train, and trust the right people can give you the support you need to keep moving forward. Tune in to learn how to approach hiring with greater clarity, structure, and confidence because you may wear many hats, but you do not have to wear them all. Connect with The Hats Podcast Send an email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHatsPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheHatsPodcast Connect with Kerri Harper-Howie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerriharperhowie/ Check out Kerri's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0D9TYFW6N Connect with Melissa Dumaz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadumaz/ Website: https://www.melissadumaz.com/