When you need a new employee, dawdling isn’t typically on the table. However, even if you’re incredibly motivated, that doesn’t mean your hiring process will go quickly.
It can often seem like finding the ideal candidate is closer to a marathon than a sprint, regardless of whether you’re acting with a sense of urgency. But by figuring out what’s causing the delay, you can speed it up.
If you’re wondering why hiring takes so long and what you can do to speed up the process, here’s a look at what can cause slowdowns and what you can do about them.
Looking for a Unicorn
While you certainly want to find the right candidate for the job, seeking perfection isn’t always a smart move. If you have a laundry list of requirements and won’t end your search until you find someone who has it all, your hiring process may lag on for months or even years.
Instead of searching for a unicorn candidate, focus on finding someone with potential. Begin by cutting down your must-haves list, leaving only skills that are genuinely needed on day one. Next, consider candidates who have most of what you want but are also enthusiastic and willing to learn.
In many cases, that type of job seeker has the ability to thrive if you give them a little guidance. You can mold them into the ideal employee instead of simply waiting for a candidate to show up who may not exist.
Too Many Applicants
Getting a lot of applicants can be a good thing, as it broadens your talent pool. However, it also means you have to screen each candidate, determining which ones are a reasonable match, something that can take time and energy.
Now, it is possible to streamline this part of your process. Using an applicant tracking system (ATS) with resume parsing capabilities, you can automate the initial screening. The ATS can skim resumes for critical keywords and rank the applicants, allowing you to immediately remove poorer fits from contention and focus on those who seem like the best match.
Poorly Structured and Scheduled Processes
For hiring to be efficient, it needs to be properly structured and scheduled. For example, by planning your interview questions, you can ensure that critical topics are covered with every applicant. Plus, you can use it to create a scoring mechanism, allowing you to compare candidates fairly.
Additionally, scheduling certain parts of the process to co-occur can expedite hiring. You may want to conduct reference checks while background checks are running, for instance, to speed up the entire process.
Ineffective Recruiting
Not finding any strong candidates can cause hiring processes to get stalled right at the beginning. At times, your recruitment methods might be to blame, particularly if you’re relying on techniques that were established years ago.
If you want to speed up hiring, you need to diversify your recruitment. Along with using your company’s careers page and major job boards, advertise positions on social media. You may also want to try niche job boards or connect with local colleges, universities, and professional groups.
Partnering with a recruitment agency is also an excellent choice. You’ll get access to recruitment experts, an established and pre-screened talent pool, and a reliable process that can speed up hiring.
If you need to quickly find a high-quality new hire, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us today.