Tightrope: Check, check, check backgrounds of would-be hires

— -- Periodically I feel the need to remind you about the importance of hiring people who know what they are doing.

We are in a recession. Many people have been laid off and are seeking new ways to make money. Some of these folks are passing out business cards as professionals, skilled workers and consultants. They tend to target entrepreneurs and other professionals.

When considering candidates for outsourcing, check, re-check and triple check experience claims and see if they've had satisfied customers. Make certain that they can provide the service you need and not just something close to it.

I have said in the past that even after checking references and screening potential hires it can still be difficult to know if you have the right person. Make certain that you observe their skills and work delivery before they get too deep into your business and your pocket.

Consider these examples:

Several months ago I met a woman at a social gathering. She was a publicist, with several high profile clients in California. A couple of clients, she said, were entrepreneurs. She said that she had just finished a news release for one of them and would e-mail it to me.

I received this release several days after our meeting. It was more like a bio of a man in the real estate business. And it was full of errors and confusing to read. When I asked her a few questions about her background, it turned out that she had never seen an actual press release and was writing what she thought one would look like. After more questions, I learned she had been laid off as a furniture salesperson and was coming to the end of her unemployment. Had she ever met a publicist? I wondered. She had not, nor had she ever read about one. Imagine that! Meanwhile she is being paid by unsuspecting people to gather publicity for them and their businesses.

My friend Emma is a professional writer and a member of an 18-member writing circle. The members hoped to branch out into television, so they hired a professional to teach them how to write scripts. They interviewed several people and settled on a man who appeared to be the best candidate. His written qualifications stated he was an award-winning playwright, television scriptwriter and author of webcasts for corporate clients. According to Emma, he had charm to match this impressive bio.