New Job Market, Not-So-New Hiring Problems
In the current jobseeker’s market, companies-especially in the tech industry, are competing to attract and keep top talent. Some organizations are getting creative by offering major perks- from game rooms, catered lunches, childcare, to unlimited vacation time. But what about the hiring process? Why aren’t most companies changing up their hiring methods?
By doing so, they could speed up the process and not lose talent to competitors, increase profits, improve customer service and employee morale, and advance other company goals. Here are some ways to streamline your company’s hiring process:
Tweak the interview process: Decide who will be part of each interview, what their role will be, and what the goal of each meeting is. If there is no clear defined reason why a particular individual is on the slate, remove them. Also, keep your interview questions consistent for each candidate so there is an even playing field.
Look for bottlenecks: Reference checkers can slow down the process, as can hiring managers and HR professionals. Many times hiring managers have a difficult time being available to schedule interviews, since they’re so busy running their department. Regular communication with HR and/or outside recruiters will ensure you don’t lose sight of goals and timelines.
Use metrics: Work with your HR department to develop metrics to measure and keep an eye on time-to-fill and cost-per-hire. This is a great way to gauge what needs improvement and helps keep line managers out of a vicious cycle of being desperate to fill a position and picking the wrong person.
Partner with outside groups: A wrong personnel choice can be expensive and time-consuming, especially since hiring is not a task you do every day. That’s why outsourcing the process to a recruiter can help you save time and money. A recruiter will know exactly where the top talent is, and will bring it to you quickly.
Develop your employer brand: Companies that start with a brand name among the market of potential employees have an advantage over other companies that don’t have a well-defined one. Building a good public perception can be done by:
- Updating your company’s website and social media profiles.
- Focusing on retaining your current employees
- Making sure all employees know your company’s “elevator pitch”
- Promoting success stories of your top employees, turning them into ambassadors
Even the best organizations should reevaluate and adjust their hiring processes to keep up with the ever-changing job market…I’m not saying to not to install that top-of-the-line espresso machine or foosball table in your office- I’m just saying to keep in mind what internal procedures need to be tweaked and streamlined so you bring the best talent to the team!
-Beth