Another useful post for small businesses at American Express's OpenForum.com blog. This time: how to hire.

A couple of the more interesting points:

1. Some people say "past performance is no indicator of future success," but Marc Cenedella of TheLadders.com job board says that past performance is precisely the best indicator. Don't just look at the job title that a candidate once held. Ask the candidate what they accomplished.
2. Be wary of the references a candidate lists. Of course candidates will only list people who like them. See if you can get a few additional names of references from the reference, and track down an opinion from beyond the candidate's innermost circle of friends.

(This entry originally appeared in an earlier version of the Wave Accounting blog for small business.)