Growing your hair-cutting franchise can be exciting, and often necessitates new staff members to join the team. Whether you’re looking to expand your staff to meet increased demand for your services, or you’re hiring a new Grooming Specialist to replace one that has left, asking the right questions is critical. Interviewing potential candidates isn’t an automatic skill that comes with becoming a business owner, as helpful as that would be. The Gents Place not only provides support and training resources, but we help assist with the hiring process by giving you 8 questions you should ask in an interview.

1. Are you licensed? This seems like an obvious question, but it’s highly important. Hiring an unlicensed barber or stylist places you and your business at risk. Be familiar with the licensing requirements in your area, and ask for proof that a candidate meets these requirements.
2. What is your experience working in a barbershop or salon? Ask your candidate to paint a clearer picture of the work history on their résumé. You can even get into a deeper discussion by asking for specific instances or training they have.
3. How long have you been cutting hair? Obviously, a lengthy list of shops but a short history of cutting hair should be a red flag. You’ll want to gauge their experiences based on the amount of time they’ve been in the industry.
4. Where did you receive training? Not all barbering and hairstyling schools are equal. Find out where a candidate trained, if they’ve apprenticed, and where, and learn about their continuing education. Quality training should lead to quality skills.
5. Do you work well in a group, or do you prefer to work alone? While the time spent with a client may be one-on-one, any candidate will become a part of a larger team if hired. It’s important that they understand how they will interact with coworkers and are agreeable to the idea.
6. On a scale of 1-10, how do you rank your hair services? Honesty is key when it comes to finding an excellent candidate. Even the most skilled stylists and barbers have places they can improve. Recognizing their weaknesses and discussing what they are doing to improve shows that they care about offering the best possible work.
7. On a scale of 1-10, how do you rank your customer service? Personality is also important in candidates. If you have a barber whose cuts are fantastic, but their customer service skills are not, you may find that they are driving away clients.
8. If you cut a client’s hair, and he was unsatisfied with the results, what would you do? Ultimately, your hair-cutting franchise is there to provide superior customer services and satisfying grooming services. Look for candidates that are willing to stand by their work and keep putting in the effort to make a client happy, even when going above and beyond is inconvenient.

Are you looking for a men’s grooming franchise opportunity that will allow you to help the men in your community look and feel amazing? At The Gents Place, we’re dedicated to revealing every man’s inner gentleman. Learn what it takes to join our team as a Strategic Partner today.

Contact our franchise team to learn more.