6 Steps to Implementing a More Effective Hiring Process
For many managers, recruiting new talent is spookier than the ghouls of Halloween. Too many have had the experience of hiring a new employee with great credentials and interview skills, only to be disappointed by that employee’s subsequent performance. Every company needs a reliable process for attracting, training, and retaining great employees.
How can you hire the “right” employee if you don’t know what you’re looking for? Using a professional assessment tool is the easiest and most accurate way to identify the responsibilities and skills required for success in a specific position. Through organizational assessment, a job model can be created for every position within the organization from entry-level employees to top managers. Further insight will come from conducting behavioral surveys for all current employees. This will help you identify any high performing employees who may “match” a position you are trying to fill.
Based on the job models developed, create ads including key words and phrases which will attract the right candidates for each position. Be deliberate in your wording and careful to avoid long lists of requirements and qualifications. Instead focus on what the company can do for a prospective employee, as studies show these kinds of ads appeal to the most talented candidates. Also note that different ads work in different markets. You’ll want to post on job search sites like Craigslist and Indeed, as well as on social media sites, particularly LinkedIn. Marketing your position using precise keywords to a targeted audience online will produce the most qualified candidates.
Make sure top management knows how to use the new job model in the recruiting and interviewing process. Measuring applicants against the ideal skills and behavioral traits identified for the position is key. Managers should be trained for every stage of the recruiting process, from making initial phone contact to conducting interviews and extending the offer. A study by Leadership IQ found that many interviewers lack confidence in their abilities and that a flawed interview process is a prime contributor to subsequent failures by new employees. It is helpful to use role-playing to practice interviewing skills before the interviewing process begin.
Don’t just focus on technical skills. Consider using a behavioral assessment tool as part of the interview process to see how well the candidate’s temperament and motivations line up with those identified in the job model. Knowing the specific traits you’re looking for also will help you formulate better interview questions. For example, you can explore a candidate’s drive and motivation by asking: “What makes you get up in the morning and want to go to work?” You will discover how self-directed a candidate is by asking: “What kind of oversight and interaction would your ideal boss provide?”
You’ll learn even more about your potential candidate’s values and expectations if you offer the opportunity for the questioning to be reversed. Be open and give a realistic description of what your work environment is like. This will give candidates a chance to determine if they want to pursue employment at your company. If it’s not the right fit, candidates may take themselves out of the running, saving you time and allowing you to focus on the ones who click with your culture.
Monitor your results. How successful has your hiring process been in recruiting the right talent? You need to develop a sense of accountability in the process and work with your human resources team to solve any organizational problems or breakdowns in communication. Monitor the success of each new hire for the first 90 days to confirm the job model. If your new employees thrive, you can have confidence in the recruiting process you have created.
Finding the right talent the first time helps with retention and increases productivity — improving your bottom line. When you implement a consistent and effective process, hiring great employees becomes easy. Don’t let recruiting new talent “spook” you anymore!