Don't Let The Ideal Recruit Be The One That Got Away
By John Kreiss, President, SullivanKreiss
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With the process of sorting through resumes and interviewing candidates so
draining and time consuming, the last thing anybody wants is for the ideal
candidate to reject a job offer. While many times a candidate's decision to
switch jobs hinges on his or her potential to make more money and advance
his or her career, sometimes a "thanks, but no thanks" response stems from
what I can only describe as "bad vibes" about the firm.
Indeed, occasionally candidates will have second thoughts about changing
jobs because of perceptions about firm culture gleaned from the recruiting
and hiring process. This is unfortunate, particularly if the candidate forms
negative perceptions that really don't reflect the reality of working for
the firm. These misperceptions can occur due to sloppy handoffs from one
hiring manager to another or from inattention to other details that are
avoidable if the firm follows some tried and true hiring procedures. Pay
attention to these issues, and you can reduce the possibility of a prized
recruit losing interest in your firm during the recruiting and hiring
process.
Plan and manage resources. Once you have your recruiting plan, you should
ensure you have the resources to execute it, and have the capacity to handle
the volume of resume reviews, screens, and follow-up interviews it will
generate. Don't let your candidate "hold box" get very deep.
Analyze your hiring process from the recruit's perspective. Is each step of
the selection process consistent for each candidate? Are the right people
involved in selection and are they executing a standard process
consistently? Does each step of the process identify the right number of
candidates for the next step? Does your selection process contribute to
selling the candidate on the opportunity, or is it so intense that it turns
him or her off? Be considerate of candidates' time. Try to schedule each
candidate's visit to include meetings with multiple managers and staff to
make each visit as efficient as possible for both the firm and the
candidate. Be sensitive to candidates' schedules, keeping in mind that job
interviews can be disruptive to their current duties.
Sell your firm while you evaluate candidates. Does your selection process
accurately convey the organizational culture? Of course, you want to make
sure that you offer plenty of information about your firm's philosophy and
goals. But also put your best face forward by holding interviews in an
attractive conference room or office. Display professional awards,
certificates of appreciation from charities for volunteer work by employees,
and your best marketing publications so that recruits will see them when
they visit.
Make sure somebody is in charge. Make sure one person is in charge of the
process and that person keeps top candidates apprised of the status of the
hiring process. Spell out who owns what, when, so that no balls are dropped
and the candidate sees that your firm has its act together.
Have a consistent message. If several people will be calling the candidate,
coordinate the message and ongoing communication. The last thing you want is
for firm representatives to give contrary messages to the candidate about
their status, expected duties, compensation, or anything else that can
affect the candidate's job. Who makes the offer? Consider who will have the
most impact on the candidate, based on relationship and role. That person is
usually the best choice.
Ensure proper follow-up. Following up with the candidate after the offer has
been made can be the difference in luring a prized recruit. You want to show
that you are eager to have the candidate join the team, but you do not want
to pressure him or her. It may be worthwhile to develop a schedule of
follow-up calls, so that you do not unintentionally bombard the candidate
with calls from several well-meaning associates. Make sure every interaction
is caring and professional.
Ultimately, you want to convey to the candidate that your firm is
professionally managed, cares about its employees' welfare, and is a
stimulating, rewarding place to work. Each interaction between your firm and
the candidate is an opportunity to do that. Make every opportunity count and
your chances of landing your next star will improve. |
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