To hire the very best employees, you want to make sure your hiring process is as effective as possible, but doing so can be difficult. There are many competing ideas about the best way to hire.
To help you optimize your own strategy, we’ve put together this comprehensive summary of the best practices to follow to ensure you are getting great hires, every time.
Develop and Strengthen Your Hiring Plan
Develop and use a simple yet impactful hiring plan. Devising a highly effective hiring plan will mean taking a closer look at your hiring metrics and finding out what works best for your company’s needs. Include these features in your plan:
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A Great Candidate Experience
It’s vital to plan an exceptional candidate experience that reflects your organization’s values and resonates with applicants. The strong demand for talent means candidates are highly mobile and will quickly move to the next opportunity if they aren’t happy with the experience they are receiving. Ensure your candidate experience includes a timely way to update applicants on their status.
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Clearly Define Job Qualifications
Hiring managers should always have a firm understanding of the position and what skills will make a candidate successful in the role. Take the time to precisely outline the job and its qualifications to everyone who is on the hiring committee. A carefully structured checklist can serve as a compass to ensure that the candidate aligns with all necessary criteria.
For the public job description, it should not only outline these job qualifications, but it should also capture the essence of your company, your culture and your values. In today’s job market, candidates are putting more weight on these and really care about what their chosen organization brings to them.
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Aligning Recruitment Channels
When promoting your job openings, ensure that the recruitment channels and messaging convey your brand values, and encapsulate the general personality of your workforce. Whether it’s through social media, industry-specific platforms, or networking events, strive to maintain a consistent and purpose-driven narrative that authentically represents your organization. Job seekers are paying closer attention to this and are assessing the fit of companies because they know their job satisfaction depends on it.
Conduct Interviews with Precision and Purpose
During interviews, asking the right questions is paramount. Prepare thought-provoking questions in advance, consciously steering clear of vague language. Embrace open-ended questions that delve into the candidate’s previous work experiences, offering insights into their ambitions and drive.
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Pose Thought-Provoking Question
Ask questions that go beyond the surface level to truly understand the candidate’s capabilities and potential. Encourage them to reflect on their experiences and share examples that demonstrate their skills and mindset.
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Integrate Interactive Activities
Moving beyond customary questioning, integrate interactive skills assessments to understand the candidate’s skill level, problem-solving abilities, and resourcefulness. Observing their approach to problems and solutions provides deeper insights that will better guide your decision-making.
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Skills Testing
When hiring for more technical positions, consider adding specific testing into your assessment process. Virtual machine-based assignments will prove the candidate’s skills according to your company’s real environment and work tasks, providing an accurate gauge of the candidate’s capabilities that’s directly aligned with your company’s needs.
At Raise, our clients are utilizing our skills-based testing platform to help evaluate hard skills for their IT roles. It’s helped identify stronger candidates and reduce skills fraud during the interview process.
Foster Collaboration and Diverse Input
Seeking input from multiple individuals regarding a candidate can provide diverse perspectives and a more comprehensive assessment of their suitability. Champion group interviews or individual discussions with members of your team, especially those from the pertinent department. Their insights will help evaluate the candidate’s fit within the role’s specific requirements.
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Engage the Team in the Hiring Process
Encourage collaboration and engagement by involving key team members in the interview process. Their input will ensure a more well-rounded evaluation and increase the likelihood of finding a candidate who fits seamlessly within the team dynamics. Ensure the team is clear on the process and are aligned on identifying how and when to set expectations with candidates.
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Embrace Diversity and Inclusive Hiring Practices
Prioritize diversity and inclusion by incorporating a variety of perspectives in your hiring decisions. This not only strengthens your team but also fosters a vibrant and dynamic work environment that can drive innovation and growth.
By weaving these strategies into your hiring practices, you can refine your hiring techniques, attract top talent, and nurture a balanced and purpose-driven work environment where employees flourish.
If you have questions or need help with your hiring strategies, let’s connect.
