Wading through dozens if not hundreds of applications for just one position can be daunting. When you need to add a new member to your team you need to spend hours focusing on candidate background and matching them to your needs. There are a lot of things that contribute to not finding a good candidate but did you know that one of them may be your hiring process itself? Before you place blame on the available talent pool it may be a good idea to look at your internal process and see if you can make any improvements. Here are a just a few reasons you may be losing out on top candidates and how you can stop this from happening.
- No candidate feedback. The number one complaint made many job seekers is that they never hear back from a company about an open position. While you certainly can’t hire everyone who walks through your door you can be courteous about the time they spend speaking with you. Often, top candidates are placed in a holding pattern while hiring managers continue to look for someone even more qualified. Then, when you are finally ready to commit, they’ve accepted other opportunities. Good candidates will not be on the market for very long. Refocus on communication and let candidates know where they are in the process.
- Poor internal interviewing skills. Many managers feel that it isn’t their responsibility to initiate good conversations in an interview. However, a bad interview can drive away a great candidate. Unrelated or inappropriate questions will make them uncomfortable and they should be avoided at all costs. You can’t ask someone if they have children but you can ask them if they are available during your business hours. Also, avoid questions like “If you were an animal, what kind would you be?” While they have good intentions they can be off-putting to candidates. Establish interview questions that are comparable between candidates and have other team members meet with them as well so you can compare notes.
- No sales technique. The real make it or break it issue for good candidates is whether or not they feel comfortable and compatible with your corporate culture. Your company can be the best place to work in your community but if you don’t communicate that properly you may lose top candidates to your competitors. See what policies and benefits can entice employees to work with you. Also, don’t try to shoehorn a candidate into your environment. If their personality isn’t a match with your current team they will never be.
Do you want to interview some of the best candidates in the area? Contact Luttrell Staffing Group staffing agencies in Johnson City TN to see how we can help you today!