Judging a book by its cover probably is not the best way to find the right candidate for your company. These days you have to at least open the book and read the first chapter.
Luckily, there are ways to ensure your company hires the right people without sitting them down in an interrogation room first.
The following tips will help you get the most out of your first encounter with potential employees and ensure you pick the perfect candidate.
Screen Resumes
In an attempt to streamline the interview process, resume screening is a great way to cut out candidates that donÂt meet the requirements. Sure, resumes are naturally screened as you read them, but they should be accompanied by a detailed checklist.
The job specific checklist can work as a 1 to 10 scale broken down into categories ranging from candidate qualifications, experiences, and whether or not they should move on to the interview process.
By doing this, you, the employer has a tailored checklist thatÂs easily compared to other checklists based off the competitionÂs resumes. Additionally, itÂs wise to have dedicated screeners during recruiting periods to act as candidate experts.
Interview for Attitude
Before you hire any employee, itÂs important to know whether their knowledge and skill level is up to par. But, another essential facet to any potential candidate is their inner office attitude. ThatÂs where the interview comes into play.
DonÂt spend too much time grilling the candidate on information already stated in the resume. Instead, try to gauge their personality. Ask questions concerning work habits, how they function under stress, and their opinion on working long hours.
This is also where your ability to read body language plays a huge role. If the candidate becomes uneasy or makes a seemingly harmless joke at the mention of possibly working nights and weekends, itÂs probably because theyÂll ultimately have a problem with it.
Quiz References
If and when a candidate reaches the reference checking stage, itÂs the perfect time to dig deep into the potential employeeÂs work past. And, if the reference is strictly professional, itÂs also a great chance to gather unbiased opinions about the employee in question.
Once questions concerning the candidateÂs abilities are out of the way, transition directly into their people skills. Questions like whether or not the candidate works well with others, their day-to-day attitudes, and their willingness to go above and beyond whatÂs asked of them are all fair game.
Test for Success
After the candidate checks out on paper and face-to-face, itÂs wise to request they take an abilities test.
Whether itÂs to get a sense of the candidateÂs general knowledge or gauge skills particular to the job, if the potential employee is all they say they are, they should have not problem taking the test and more importantly, receiving an adequate score.
So, when it comes time to fill your next open position, take some of the above tips into consideration and find the best employee for the job.
As an employer, what have your hiring experiences been like to date?
Photo credit: ABC15.com
About the Author: Adam Groff is a freelance writer and creator of content. He writes on a variety of topics including business, invoice software, and personal health.
