Hiring can be a pain. There’s no other way to put it. But we all have to do it at some point.

To help make it a little easier for you to seal the deal, here are a few tips for the next time you find yourself in the middle of the hiring process:

Know the needs of the position – Before you post an ad in the newspaper or begin making calls to local headhunters, sit down and write out exactly what you are looking for in someone to fill the position. This includes personality traits, skills, previous job experience and education experience.

Don’t skimp on the number of candidates – Although the interview process is exhausting and overwhelming, you will only be sure you have the person best suited for the job by interviewing and eliminating a substantial number of applicants. If not enough people apply for the position, expand your resources for getting the word out regarding the open position.

Take your time during the interview process – Often first impressions aren’t the correct impressions, so be sure you have interviewed your prospective employees at least twice. Bring other employees in on the interview if you want to gain a fresh perspective.

Don’t be afraid to check references – Let the candidate know that you will definitely be checking references. This step helps you verify that your candidates have the experience and education that qualifies them for the job, as well that they have been a good employee in the past.

Because the job interview process is time consuming, it is essential that you know you have the right person in the job to help avoid having to repeat the process along with having to terminate an employee because they don’t meet the qualifications for the position.

Obviously, hiring the best candidate for the position has a positive impact on your business but it also reduces the chances of an employment practices related claim, such as wrongful termination, from arising.