There’s too much work; the company needs that new employee yesterday. The hiring process kicks into warp speed. There’s little thought other than, “We have to fill that slot – now.” Not, “We will search until we find the right person.” The company is desperate, they don’t spend the upfront time needed for a quality hire. Someone is hired and everyone hopes for the best. All too often, those hopes are quickly dashed. So, for the next time (and there will be a next time) invest the time and effort for a successful hire. This includes doing some up-front work. Here are some thoughts on and tools for how to do better job of hiring the right employee.
1 The job definition. Yup, the first step is to sit down and write a job description. You can’t possibly hire the right person for the job if you haven’t accurately described the job. Start with a position title, then write a brief description of duties as well as the qualifications required. Get input from your team. Be specific.
Definition Examples:
Bad: Must have experience in Piping industry.
Better: Must have a minimum of five years of warehouse experience in Piping industry.
Excellent: Must have extensive experience in managing a warehouse with $10+ million in inventory for Stainless Steel pipe destined for the Oil Industry (minimum 5 years).
2 The interview script. Don’t “wing it” for the interviews. Generate a list of interview questions ahead of time. It is important that your interviews are consistent and thorough. Don’t just ask about past job experiences, the candidates will trot out a grocery list of accomplishments, instead ask them what they would do in a specific situation. Get them to think on their feet, not just recite recent accomplishments.