MightyRecruiterFinding and hiring top candidates for positions in your company can be challenging for a wide variety of reasons. However, one of those reasons should not be poor recruitment practices on your part. If you want to attract and eventually hire the best people, you need to make the process simple and make applicants feel as though they are special. We’ve compiled this list of resolutions to improve your recruitment strategies and make all-star hires.
Make Application Easy
Many companies believe their job applications are straightforward and applicant friendly. If you were to ask job seekers, however, they might disagree. Sure, there is a lot of required information that has to be included on the form, but that doesn’t mean it has to be confusing to applicants. Companies can have an outside party evaluate their application form to see if it is helpful and clear for job seekers. One of the easiest resolutions to improve your recruitment strategies involves creating clear job descriptions. If you can’t explain simply and briefly to applicants what the open position’s duties are, you won’t grab the attention of top candidates. Also, if a job seeker contacts the company looking for more information, it’s vital you provide the answer in a timely manner. Applicants are looking for good communication and helpful instructions from the outset.
Make Interviews Pleasant
Most people ï on both sides of the desk ï feel a little nervous during job interviews. You can help alleviate some of this stress for your job candidates by creating a welcoming atmosphere. When you schedule their interview appointments, let them know you are excited to meet them. Offer customized directions to the office depending where candidates are coming from. Starting the interview with a brief tour can give both the hiring manager and the interviewee a few moments to relax.
Be Polite
Some of the basic human courtesies have fallen by the wayside in recent years as we’ve all become accustomed to a lot of screen time. One of your resolutions to improve your recruitment strategies should involve making and holding eye contact, even from a longer distance. Let candidates know they can use the restroom at any time, and don’t take calls during the discussion. Offering water or coffee are nice touches that can make job candidates feel welcome and as if they are a priority.
Be Clear About Terms
Interview subjects shouldn’t have to guess about the details of your compensation package. Even if the salary is negotiable, it’s important that one of your resolutions to improve your recruitment strategies includes being concise about the scope of the pay, benefits and other perks when you are talking to job candidates. You shouldn’t promise a perk, such as a flexible work schedule, if you know that won’t work for the job opening you have. Any details about compensation should be written down and clearly laid out so that job seekers can compare what you offer with the perks at other companies.
Think About Alternate Approaches
For some top recruits, a job interview in an office for two hours might not be the most conducive choice. You should consider other methods to get to know the candidate and his or her strengths. For example, he or she might benefit from a short job shadow session with someone who fills a similar job. Or, you might ask a few key coworkers to take the job seeker out to lunch. Even if you do decide to stay in the conference room, try to be creative when it comes to choosing interview questions.
Give Them Some Swag
Once you’ve narrowed down the list of top applicant to just a few, one of the best resolutions to improve your recruitment strategies is to send the interviewees home with a little swag bag of company merchandise. This can be mugs, a T-shirt or a fancy note pad. Job applicants don’t expect to receive gifts in an interview, and this extra touch could make a big difference.
Be Sure to Follow Up
Finally, be sure to follow through with all candidates whom you interview. It’s not polite or constructive to leave applicants hanging. Let them know when you will make a decision, and if you don’t decide to hire them, let them know personally and compassionately. If you treat them well, they will remember for next time and be more likely to apply again for future openings. In addition to learning how about resolutions to improve your recruitment strategies, you can learn how to make solid hiring decisions and improve your companies using the resources at Mighty Recruiter as a guide.