In many ways, having an open position at your company can be both a blessing and a curse as an employer. Going through the interviewing and hiring process can be a grueling affair, something we understand all too well at Employees Only. That’s why we’ve developed this list of tips and suggestions to make hiring your next employee much easier.
Know what you’re looking for
The most important thing you can do before you even post a job opening is develop specific criteria for what you’re looking for in an ideal candidate. At the very least, you should develop a set of minimum standards you require. This not only helps you and your hiring team weed out the lesser applicants, but also allows you to focus on the higher-qualified candidates.
Education does not equal experience
Most job postings have a minimum education requirement, which is essential to ensure your company is only hiring people with the most knowledge. But education doesn’t always outweigh experience. Just because someone went to an Ivy League university, doesn’t mean he or she is a better candidate than someone with a degree from a state college. In order to find your ideal employee, you must take both experience and education into account. If Candidate A has a less impressive education but has more experience than Candidate B, the former might be the better choice.
Hire someone who ‘fits’
While it’s crucial that a new hire meets all your specific requirements, there are intangibles that are just as important. In order for your team to be efficient and effective, it must work together as a cohesive unit. That’s why it’s important that your new hire be someone who “fits in” with your current team. If you don’t think he or she would mesh well with your employees, then it would be wise to move onto the next prospect. Chemistry is essential for your company to succeed.
Use social media to seek out candidates
Just because you have posted a job opening, doesn’t mean that all your ideal candidates are going to apply. We’ve already written about the importance of LinkedIn when looking for a job, but it can also be used to find employees. If you’re looking for a person who has a specific skillset, you can search for those skills within the network and approach them directly. This also gives you the opportunity to be exposed to prospects you might not otherwise have seen. While these four suggestions aren’t the only things you should do when hiring, they are a great place to start. If you have questions about good hiring practices or human resources in general, please feel free to contact us today.
Leave a Reply