Today, many companies are getting back into the hiring game after a little bit of an absence. Some employers believe the search for the perfect candidate will be an easy task with so many people unemployed. However, the fact that so many companies are suddenly beginning to hire again means that there is greater competition for top tier employees. Employing the right recruitment strategies can help ensure that you’ll be able to pick and choose from the cream of the crop when it comes to job seekers.
Pre-screen Potential Candidates Well
There’s no reason to waste your time or the time of candidates who do not have the required skills to get the job done. Include a rigorous “skills” test as part of the application process. This will help you hire with confidence that the candidate can do the job you need them to do while avoiding those who interview well but really lack fundamental skills that are necessary to the job. More importantly, it will save valuable time interviewing and investing in getting to know a candidate better if that candidate isn’t going to be a good fit for the position in the end.
Do Not Wait Until You Need to Hire to Start the Process
Begin the hiring process now. This will allow you plenty of time to vet potential candidates before you’re ready to commit to the actual hiring of a new employee. Many companies are waiting until the need is critical and then they are rushed and make hiring decisions they would not have made in other circumstances. It’s better to have the process in place and a few talented candidates in mind before a definite need arises in order to avoid mistakes that could be prove costly in time, training, and lost productivity.
Hire Experienced Operators
The job market is filled with people who have experience in all sorts of fields. The odds are good that there are plenty of qualified candidates for any positions you have available. The problem with hiring inexperienced candidates, while they may work for less, is that they also bring along bigger expenses and a much greater “learning curve” for the particulars of a job. If you’re hiring someone with industry experience and knowledge, there will still be a slight learning curve as they get to know your method of operation. However, it will be far less than the interruption of someone who will need complete and total on-the-job training in your industry. Most companies don’t have that kind of time on their hands to invest once they’ve reached the point of hiring someone new in today’s economy. Do you?
There are many things you can do that will improve your odds of finding the perfect fit for your company culture with the right experience to get the job done. These are just a few things you can incorporate into your hiring mindset to improve the odds that you’ll get the right person from the start.