With so many people now working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, the workplace has witnessed some radical changes in a matter of a few months. To specify, businesses have had to modify their recruiting strategies to meet the demands of the new virtual-only workplace.
More than ever before, video-conference job interviews stand between your company and new talent. And because many hiring managers do not have the opportunity to physically meet with applicants, properly screening candidates is of the utmost importance should you aim to hire phenomenal employees into your workforce. In this post, we will explain how to perfect your hiring process while still accounting for the trying times we must endure.
Step 1: Determine a hiring timeline
The first phase of the recruiting process is deciding on the optimal time to start scanning the talent pool for hires. Doing this ahead of when your business needs help can help you avoid situations where you’re stuck in a rut where you need more staff ASAP but no qualified, lined-up candidates ready to work.
When determining a timeline, start by completing a cost-benefit analysis to evaluable how much of a salary you can reasonably promise your potential hire. At the end of the day, every candidate is interested in making the most of their experience and ability levels, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for top talent.
Step 2: Create an attractive job description
The best job descriptions take time to write and are pleasant and informative to read. Outstanding job descriptions accomplish the following:
- Describe the expected job duties
- Propose pay range
- Illustrate the company’s mission
- Specify the degree of work experience preferred
- Outline the skill sets required for the job
- Give a peek into your company culture
Step 3: Recruit candidates
Before you’re able to begin recruiting, you’ll need to first build a pool of applicants from which you can select the best candidates for the job. Begin by implementing an incentivized employee referral program, posting job listings on several job board sites, or listing your opening on LinkedIn. This will get the fire started and the applications will start flowing in.
Step 4: Run a background check
Once you have confidently narrowed down your list of potential hires, you’ll want to complete an identity verification to ensure the person behind the resume is exactly who they claim to be. If you’re wondering how long does a background check take, it entirely depends on the service you use. It pays to use one that is comprehensive and instant to make sure you get all of the information you need to move forward with confidence.
With these useful background checks, you will be able to gain a more comprehensive glimpse into your applicants. There’s always a lot more to a person than the eye meets, so it’s best to know as much as you can before inviting them into your company.
Step 5: Interview, interview, interview
While the interview process can be exciting, it can also be stressful if you’re not well-prepared. Once you’re finally able to get some face-time with your favorite applicants, you need to make sure you come to the interview with a strong set of questions that evaluate their work ethic, personality, needs, wants, and more.
The right set of insightful questions that will reveal the key characteristics you need to know about a potential hire. Consider these challenging and thoughtful interview questions:
- What critical feedback do you most often receive?
- What have you learned from your professional mistakes?
- What skills do you possess that make you qualified for this position?
- How would you describe your working style?
- What drew you to this particular position?
- What do you like to do outside of work?
Be wary of the length of the interview as you don’t want to lose the interest of the candidate or take too much time away for your own workday. The sweet spot typically lies between 30 minutes to an hour for a first interview.
Congratulations! Your business is just a few hires away from next-level success. With a revamped and streamlined hiring process, you’ll have all of the tools you need to build the team of your dream.