Hiring isn’t easy, but Workopolis has been perfecting the process for 16 years, and all that experience has left us with some pretty valuable expertise.
We recently spoke with four of our recruitment specialists about effective ways to make finding the right hire quicker and easier. They know how an interview should go from start to finish, what you should be looking for in a quality candidate, how to ask the right questions, and everything in between.
Here are 4 tips to help make hiring a lot easier, straight from our pros.
Tip #1: Understand what a role requires
After being in the recruiting industry for over 20 years, our director of service delivery, Beverly Marinucci, says the hiring process is often complicated due to a misunderstanding about what a role requires.
“If the role you’re hiring for is currently vacant or entirely new, understand how the role fits into the overall organizational structure. What will its main responsibilities be? Understanding this will make it easier to know what you’re looking for in a new hire. On the other hand, if the role isn’t new and you’re simply looking for a replacement, talk to the hiring manager and the employee leaving the position to understand if there is room for growth and improvement. This will help you look for the skills and qualities to fill those gaps.”
Here are some questions that will help iron out your requirements and expectations.
- Why is this role currently vacant?
- Was the last person assigned to this role adequate? How would you rate their performance and competence in relation to what you’re looking for in a replacement, and in which areas would you like to see improvement?
- What do you require of your current employees when you think about ranking them as top performers? What makes them stand out, and how do these traits translate into what you’re looking for in your next hire?
Tip #2: Be clear in the interview
Our delivery program manager, Sonya Matheson, has 14 years of recruitment consulting experience.
“The #1 reason candidates can’t live up to their new employer’s expectations is because they don’t fully understand the requirements of the role before they start. Hiring managers needs to be super clear about a role’s responsibilities during the interview, and equip their new hires with a solid understanding of their company values and mission during the onboarding process. Most importantly, a new hire needs to be able to connect the purpose of their role to the company’s mandates.”
Sonya also tells us that applicants are often also customers:
“It’s important to have a positive recruitment experience even if they don’t get the role, because they will always remember the experience they had with you. This will impact their decision to refer great talent to your organization, and if you meet a candidate that almost made the cut, you’ll want them to feel comfortable enough to apply for future opportunities,” she says.
Tip #3: Follow up with candidates
Shawn D’Souza, Workopolis’ talent acquisition manager, is a firm believer in post-interview etiquette.
“Make sure you follow-up with all candidates that you’ve brought in for an interview. You’ve built a relationship with these individuals, so it’s important to let them know where they stand, provide them with information on when you will reach out to them, and be sure to follow through.”
Tip #4: Take your time
Our bilingual recruitment specialist, Véronique Tardif, says:
“Taking time with each candidate can only work to your advantage. It’s important to remember that rushing an interview is never a good idea, so make sure you’ve given yourself the proper amount of time to prepare for a great interview experience. This way, both you and your candidate can walk away with all of the information you require to make an informed decision.”
Make your hiring process smoother by applying these four tips, and don’t forget to download our free eGuide, Interview for Success, for the inside scoop on how to ask the right questions and find your next great hire quicker.
See also:
Hiring and HR tips from the worst year ever (2016)
5 common recruitment myths
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