9 Tips on Hiring the Best Candidate to Join Your Work Force
Is it time to hire new employees? If so, then you might be wondering how to find the best candidate among hundreds of resumes. You need someone who is qualified and will be a good fit for the company.
Lucky for you, we want to share our tips for hiring the best candidates. Read on to get started.
1. It Starts With the Job Description
The first step to finding the best candidate for the job is to create an accurate job description.
If you’re vague, you will get hundreds of applications from people who aren’t right for the job but want to try their luck anyway.
When you take your time to create a job description and are as accurate as possible, you will receive applications from more qualified candidates. The more specific you get in the ad, the more guidance you’ll provide for future candidates.
Make a criterion for which skills you’re absolutely looking for, and which ones are optional.
2. Step Out of the Interview Zone
It’s always a good idea to step out of the interview zone. This can be done in many different ways. You can take them out for coffee or lunch so you avoid the sterile interview environment.
You can also, take them on a tour around the office as you allow them to ask questions and show their interest in the company. You can observe how the candidate reacts to the environment.
We all know candidates are often times well rehearsed, but stepping out of the typical interview zone will help them be more relaxed and act more natural.
3. Get A Second Opinion
Even if you’ve been in the game a long time and are a great judge of character, it never hurts to ask a colleague or two for an honest opinion. You can have someone else sit in the interview and also ask the candidate questions. Maybe they’ll ask things you haven’t thought about asking.
If they can’t sit in the interview, why not show them their resume and ask for their opinion.
Why not ask those who will work with the candidate for their opinion, after all, they’ll be the ones who will be showing the new candidate the ropes.
4. Hire Interns
If you want to hire the perfect candidate, why not hire interns? Hiring interns allow you to train them and have the opportunity to work with them for an extended period of time.
You can consider this a trial period. Working with interns from the beginning will allow you to train them to meet your expectations and uphold the company values.
At the end of the internship, you can pick the interns who exceeded your expectations and offer them a job. This will cut down training time since they will already be familiar with the job.
5. Give them a Little Homework
Let’s say at the end of the interview you feel confident about a candidate, why not confirm they are the right person for the job by giving them a little homework assignment.
You can have them answer a few more questions in writing to test their communication and problem-solving skills. Or give them a small project similar to the ones they’ll have to do should they get the position.
It’s important to give them some direction but not too much direction. Allow them to show you how they work and what they’re capable of.
6. Ask Unexpected Questions
Candidates will know how to answer all of the questions on their resume and will arrive at the interview well prepared.
If you’re tired of all the candidates sounding robotic, why not ask them questions they were not expecting.
Instead of asking them why they left their last job, ask them what they’re most proud of in their career so far. You can also ask them job unrelated questions that say a lot about their character.
The important thing is to get to know your candidates beyond the typical interview questions.
7. Check for Compatibility
Yes, a lot of candidates have a strong skill set and are qualified for the job, but will their personality fit.
Finding a personality that fits with your company values is just as important as finding qualified skillsets. Future candidates not only have to get along and work well with their colleagues, but they also have to do the same with clients.
Some jobs require personalities that are more empathetic, especially if they work in the healthcare field. While others require a more stern personality.
8. Have a Strong Company Brand
If you want to attract strong candidates, you need to build a strong sense of your brand. You don’t want to be a company people just apply to because they’re looking for a new job and happened to come across your site.
Instead, you want to be the company people desire to work for. In order to do so, you should have a strong sense of your company’s brand.
What makes you different from other employers? What does your company have to offer to employees? A company who goes the extra mile will attract the same type of candidates.
9. Look for Diversity
Nothing enriches a company more than diversity. Aim to include diversity in your company.
Having employees from different backgrounds will open up different perspectives and innovation.
If you keep hiring the same type of employee, you’ll limit your circle. However, even hiring employees with different majors will broaden the company’s horizon.
A fresh set of eyes can help you bring in more clients.
If you’re not getting enough diverse applicants, try to post job ads on other platforms or get in touch with organizations that can help.
Hiring the Best Candidate Made Possible
You don’t have to dig through thousands of resumes when looking to fill a position. Hiring the best candidate is easier than you think.
Start by writing specific job descriptions, step out of the interview comfort zone, and get a second opinion. These tips will help you find the right candidate for the job.
If you want to learn how to grow your business and avoid some common startup mistakes, check out our blog.
