Every business owner and executive reaches a certain point when change becomes critical to the growth of their business. Perhaps you need to make a change to company culture, office protocol or maybe the biggest change of all; hiring new staff. How do you go about finding great employees? What are the qualities you are looking for in a new hire, and what is their ideal place in your company? These are all important questions to ask ourselves when we begin the daunting task of employee selection. So what steps can you take to make your hiring experience a positive one?
First, it’s vital that you convey precisely what the job is. While covering the main duties of the job, it’s also a good idea to identify certain sub-tasks or underlying requirements of the job. By providing these small details, you have a better chance of finding candidates more suited for the position; primarily because you will receive resumes and applications from those who understand all the tasks and sub-tasks of the job.
Second, it’s important to ask your candidates the right questions. And when they answer, listen. Do they hesitate when answering a question related to the job? Perhaps they feel that they are capable of handling the position but expect their weaknesses to show in certain areas. Pay attention to their job history and resume. How many similar fields has the candidate worked in? How much experience do they have working in the current position you are trying to fill? These are just a few factors to keep in mind when searching for the right candidate.
And finally, don’t just rely on a resume and first impression alone. Use a multitude of strategies to hire the right candidate. One excellent strategy is the use of pre-employment testing. By using a test designed to gauge personality types and behaviors, you are better able to determine if the candidate has the mental and emotional capacity to not only handle the position, but also fit into your current company culture. Finding a fitting candidate for your company has several benefits. You save money on time which would be spent hiring and training new candidates, but above all, you have a smoothly operating business with low turnover and a successful, productive team.