“Did I follow up? Did I come with a polished resume and portfolio? Did I effectively demonstrate my skills? I hope I didn’t waste their time!”
Preparedness is at the forefront of job seekers’ mind, but is it at the front of yours as a hiring employer? It’s assumed that candidates will be ready for all interaction between themselves and potential bosses. In fact, if they’re performing a succesful job search, they’ve responded to your initial requests with great cover letters and resumes. This is where your attitude as an employer makes all the difference.
Attracting top talent and guiding it through the hiring funnel should be your motivation. With opportunities for skilled individuals to make money without staying in one ‘company position,’ be prepared to court them. It’s this curious reversal of fortune in today’s burgeoning entrepreneurial climate that will have you working just as hard to retain top-notch employees.
Fear not—here are several tips to ensure you’re on the right track:
- Acknowledge effort. No doubt a candidate took their time reading the requirements of the job and tailoring their resume to reflect commensurate experience. Let them know you appreciate it.
- Sell your company. Why should someone want to work for you? If you’re not thinking about this, it’s time to hit the drawing boards. Figure out what sets your company apart, and why someone should invest their energies for your betterment.
- Make them feel welcome. Just as you expect decorum and a positive attitude from potential employees, they expect it from you. Even though you might think you have the advantage, a candidate may end up with several offers on the table. You want them to remember your unique style and climate as a company.
- Cultivate the contact. If you decide to go a different direction, let the candidates who were interviewing know. Don’t simply dismiss them; this is detrimental in the long run. Later on you may want to retain their services if new positions are added or someone leaves the company. They will be more willing to entertain the idea if you have treated them correctly.
If you’ve prepared yourself for the hiring process, you will get much more than you imagined. Hopefully you will attract top talent, have options within the candidate pool and hire a qualified match for your company. Done correctly, you’ll also stock your folder with potential hires. If something goes wrong with your current choice or you find yourself at the helm of a growing company, you’ll know where to look.
Curious for more info on the subject? Here are additional tips for creating the right candidate experience.
Published by Conselium Executive Search, the global leader in compliance search.
