Recruit the Right Talent!
Recruit the Right Talent!
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” We have all heard the phrase. It refers to our human tendency to form an opinion of a person or thing based on what we see on the surface. It cautions valuing something based on what is seen on the outside.
This idiom bears repeating when discussing employment. One of the primary reasons that many employment relationships fail is due to a misrepresentation of either the organization or the candidate. This results in a bad fit.
To avoid this, human resources professionals must do two things: 1) market the true culture of your organization and its mission; and 2) obtain an accurate assessment of potential candidates. Both concerns become extremely important when you plan to recruit talent.
Know Who You Are and Show Who You Are
Trying to attract talent with something other than an accurate portrayal of the company, its environment and its direction, is misleading. It is akin to false advertising. The way to find the right talent is to show an honest representation of the company. To do this, you must first have a clear understanding of your organization. What is your mission? What is your values statement? Are employees truly living those values and supporting that mission? If not, then these need to be redefined to accurately reflect the company’s core values and purpose. Job candidates will experience an organization through its online presence, feedback from current employees as well as what they see and hear during their job interview. All of these elements must reflect who you are as an organization. When you attract potential candidates this way, you can ensure that they will be passionate about your company and its mission.
Go Off Script
Just as you want to present your company in the best possible light, potential candidates are doing the same with their qualifications and experience. By asking a few unusual questions you can scratch below the surface to determine whether the candidate is a good fit. For example:
• If you didn’t need money, what would you do in life?
• When have you been so engrossed in an activity that you lost track of time and what were you doing?
• What do you want to be remembered for in life?
• If you had a free day, how would you spend it?
Look for contradictions between answers to these questions and answers to those questions regarding the position. Listen for responses that are aligned with your organization’s core values. In the end, honesty is the best policy in finding the best talent for your organization. It is the only way to find the right fit and recruit the right talent!