7 Tips for Recruiters for Finding Qualified Candidates
As a recruiter, you try to see the potential in every candidate. You dream of finding that next superstar who excels in their role and brings new, innovative ideas to the table.
Most of all, you just want to find someone that has all the qualities of a good employee—someone team-oriented, with a relentless work ethic, a great attitude, and a sense of personal and professional integrity. Great employees are the backbone of any credible organization. Not only do they achieve results, they also shape the culture and intellectual environment of any company.
So, obviously, recruiters want to do their best to find these kinds of talented individuals and make them a part of the team. But it’s not as simple as it sounds. With rising unemployment contributing to a huge influx of new job seekers, it can be a complicated process pinning down qualified candidates. Following these seven tips should make the process a little easier:
- Solicit employee referrals.
Your employees are familiar with your organization and the daily challenges they face in their particular industry. Give them opportunities to refer talented friends or colleagues and demonstrate trust in your employees by giving those individuals priority in the hiring process. Consider setting up a referral program where current employees are provided with bonuses or other incentives when they refer qualified candidates.
- Write an excellent job description.
Be direct, honest, and specific in the job descriptions you post. The more vague you make the description, the wider a net you’ll cast. Be upfront about the skills and experience a candidate absolutely must have in order to have a shot at the role.
- Use social media and other online tools to help you find a great candidate.
On Indeed and LinkedIn, you can find candidates based on criteria such as skills and location, and easily filter through candidates who apply for your job postings. If the position you’re advertising is remote then these tools are even better, as you’ll be tapping into a vast talent pool filled with people from around the world who you can sort through at the push of a button. .
- Make a good first impression.
In an interview, the expectation to make a positive first impression shouldn’t fall solely on the candidate—you also have to make this person feel like your company has the type of environment where they can be happy and productive. Be timely, organized, clear, and friendly to make the interview experience the best it can be.
- Ask specific and thoughtful questions throughout the interview process.
Rather than going by the book and asking the usual generic interview questions, come up with questions that may provide insightful and surprising answers. Let candidates know about common obstacles that they could potentially run into and ask how they would deal with them.
If applicable, review a candidate’s work samples and ask specific questions about their past work and how it could translate to the position they’re applying for. This will help you further understand their experience, while also demonstrating to the candidate that you took the time to actually look into them and carefully review their work.
- Make interviewing a group effort.
Include current employees who work in similar roles as the one the candidate is applying for. These people know the job best, so they can be really helpful in determining whether or not a potential candidate would be a good fit for the role. Also, by including more people in the interview process, you’ll end up with a more thorough evaluation of the candidate, and the candidate will get a general sense of what the company culture is like.
- Present candidates with an offer they can’t refuse.
Be enthusiastic in your recruiting, and let the top candidates know how much it would mean to you if they joined your organization. Everyone wants to feel sought after and valued. Additionally, entice them with the brass tacks of the deal: paying your employees a good wage, offering benefits, and providing them with other perks go a long way in getting them to accept a job offer.
New hires determine the future of any company. With this in mind, recruiting is extremely important. It’s never an easy process, but it doesn’t have to be particularly difficult one either. Next time you’re hiring for a new position, try putting these tips into practice and you’ll be happy with the kind of talent you attract.
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