Business Beware: Do's and Don'ts of Hiring

The right candidate will be someone who is already working for you during the interview, he adds. The interview is more dialogue than interrogation and the subject is asking equally probing questions about your needs and expectations and thinking about solutions.

Who is Mr. or Ms. Perfect? Skills vary, depending on the job, but experts agree that the best candidates for small businesses are those who have an understanding of the customer and know how to generate revenue. They are driven, self-motivated, and don't think this is a job. They like challenges, want change and are adaptable. They network, proselytize for you and inspire. They don't accept the status quo and want to do better.

In Silicon Valley, the engineers in highest demand are those "who have a natural curiosity about things," says Michael A. Morell, managing partner at Riviera Partners. "If they only know one to two languages, then this is just a job to them. The best know five to six languages and are looking to learn new ones. They are always trying to figure things out, are on every social network, and are always looking at new features."

When to hire? You've done your homework and laid the groundwork for an efficient hiring process. But sometimes the best hires are the ones you don't necessarily plan for. If you find someone who "can be a game-changer for your business," says ERE Media's Raphael, "gobble him or her up and then figure out what they're going to do afterwards."

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