Sorting Through the Pile: Why Hiring is a Full-Time Job
Resumes can pile up fast. They quickly take over as a desk full of stacks of the hopes, dreams and professional lives of hundreds of people, waiting for a business to respond. It can be overwhelming, but finding the right person, out of that massive stack, to fill the position can be worth the time and energy. It takes diligence and patience to find the right fit, and that’s why hiring is a full-time job.
It starts with an application; a desire to be part of a greater whole. At this stage, an applicant is like a trick-or-treater, knocking and waiting for the person inside to give them their candy. For the business on the receiving end, it’s an Easter egg hunt — sorting through the masses to find the hidden gems. Once a business decides to pluck the applicant from the sea of potential, the real work begins.
A phone interview or an informational email often starts the individual process of vetting the right candidate. Getting to know an applicant is easier said than done, and these moments spent drafting the right questions to get the most out of their responses is time well spent. An interested business will take the time to go back and forth, answering any and all questions from an applicant if they think the person shows promise. Getting beyond the informational interview is the key for both parties, and a business will know if the applicant is one they want to pursue in the first few minutes. Was this applicant eager, smart, and most importantly, qualified for the job?
Then comes the face to face interaction. These days, a business can cut down on costs by asking an applicant to Skype. It may sound impersonal, but this method actually opens up the applicant pool. Why not have an interview with someone across the country? Skype, Facetime, and many other video chat services now allow for companies to cut the time and the cost, but still find the people they need to run their business. For applicants, this takes the stress out of traveling out of their own home, and keeps their interview personal. It gives them time to ask about the job, any technologies they may be unfamiliar with, such as online timecard software, and the culture of the office. However, businesses beware — sometimes applicants won’t take this Skype opportunity seriously. This face to face interaction is a good time to check out their appearance. Did they take the time to dress the part? Vetting a candidate based on looks is a big no-no, but assessing their professionalism is not.
After the previous steps are taken, which could be weeks or even months down the road, it is time to bring the applicant in. When candidate steps through the door, it should be with success in mind, and if a business took the full-time job seriously, they’ve found the right man or woman for the job. Nothing is foolproof though, and even after the extensive checks and balances, a business could still find that the candidate isn’t the right fit, but at least nobody could say the time wasn’t taken.
