Over my coaching years, I’ve had countless conversations about finding top talent. One recurring theme: the importance of a strong hiring process! It saves time, reduces wasted effort, and simplifies your work. But where do you start? In this blog, I’ll share a few little tidbits that I came up with for building an exceptional hiring process, and I’ve broken them down into three key areas.
This blog post is focused on the recruitment, interview, and decision-making phases, and we won’t be discussing onboarding or training in detail.
1. Recruitment
The foundation of a successful hiring process begins with recruitment. It’s crucial to have a crystal-clear understanding of who you want to bring into your team and the specific role they’re meant to fill. First, you’ll need to craft job descriptions or create a “job scorecard” to define the characteristics, skillsets, and qualities you desire in your ideal candidate.
Next, you want to think about where you are going to find that person. What avenues will you utilize? You must put yourself in a position to eventually interview multiple people that fit the criteria. You might look within your existing network, online, or through job ads. Come up with the top 3-5 ways that you’ll be using to find and recruit the right person. It’s important to analyze how much time each method will take, as well as what the financial investment might be in this hiring process.
For example, if you send an email out to your existing network, how long is it going to take for you to write it? If you’re putting up an ad, how much will that cost? How much time will you spend looking for someone at a networking event?
Lastly, we compile the criteria that need to be set up when you’re recruiting. This is to filter out unfit candidates. By including basic qualifications or tests that applicants must pass, you can save valuable time and ensure you’re only considering those who meet your requirements. Otherwise, you may get flooded with applicants who are not qualified. Once you do get a qualified applicant, follow up immediately. If you let applicants fall through the cracks, they may end up finding positions elsewhere rather quickly.
2. Interview
The interview stage of the hiring process is where you truly get to know your potential hires. While there’s a plethora of advice available on interviewing techniques, one vital aspect I’ll emphasize is the importance of sharing your company’s core values and culture with candidates.
Remember, you’re not only interviewing for their skillset but also for how well they fit into your company. That’s extremely important. I recommend using profile tools such as DISC or Myers-Briggs for additional reference. You shouldn’t base your decisions entirely on these tests, but they’re very helpful as a supplemental benchmark.
Also, you’ve got to have reference checks. Some people don’t believe in them, but they’re crucial to choosing the best candidate for your position.
3. Decision
The final step is making a decision. You need to deliberate thoroughly, and if necessary, consult with your colleagues. However, time is of the essence; talented candidates are often on the lookout for opportunities and may not wait indefinitely. So, strike the right balance between careful consideration and timely action.
Also, before you make a decision, you can conduct an on-the-job trial run just to make sure it’s a good fit before the official hire. Normally, this trial period lasts 90 days, which is plenty of time to determine whether or not the candidate will work for you.
Now, Implement Your Hiring Process
There you have it—a blueprint for creating an exceptional hiring process that can transform your organization. By implementing these strategies in your recruitment, interview, and decision-making processes, you’ll be better equipped to identify and onboard top-notch talent. Remember, hiring isn’t just about skills; it’s about finding the right cultural fit as well.
So, go out there, apply these insights, and embark on the exciting journey of building a stronger, more dynamic team. Have a better than amazing hiring process!
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