Filling an open position on your own can be a very time-consuming and frustrating process. Finding qualified candidates and setting up interviews while still trying to do your regular job or even running the business can be challenging. You have remarkably high expectations for the person you will decide on to become a part of your team or your company. You want the best, and nothing less will do.
How long has the position been open, and how many people have you interviewed? No one seems to be right, and so the position sits empty, putting more pressure on you and the other employees to get the work done.
Is the problem that you are not finding the right person, or is the problem how you are approaching the problem? Have you set such high expectations that either you will not be happy with anyone that applied for the job? Have you made the position sound so stressful that no one wants to take the job?
If your primary job is not that of a recruiter, you may be sabotaging your process. Unless you recognize how you are doing that, your position will sit open for a long time while perfectly qualified people are turned away or turn down your offer.
Possible Mistakes Made in the Interview Process
- Either the lack of a real job description or an unrealistic list of responsibilities
Most positions have a set list of tasks that are assigned to the person in that position. 90% of the person's time might be dedicated to a single thing or a shortlist of tasks. However, in a lot of companies, especially small businesses, with a limited number of employees, there are times when it becomes “all-hands-on-deck” to get a job done or a task completed. Over time, people who work for you might wind up working on any number of things as they come up, but for 90% of the time, they are dedicated to a single thing. If you write your job description and list every possibility of a task that might come up, it may seem that the job is way more complicated and stressful than it is.
For small businesses, there might not even be a formal job description written up, and even though you might be hiring someone, for instance, to be your bookkeeper, you might start to discuss everything you have ever done. Meanwhile, the person sitting across from you is thinking that they just want to be the bookkeeper.
Even for small businesses, have a job description ready and keep it realistic based on what the position is expected to do as a primary function. You may explain that there are times when particular projects come up, but if the job is a single-function job, position it that way.
- Unclear or no company identity or culture
When people have a job, the job becomes part of who they are. They become friends with people in the office and may even start to hang out with co-workers after work. When people are looking for a job, they want to know that they are going to be appreciated for the work they do, and compensated appropriately, but there are other things people look for in a job. They want to know they are part of a team and want to know that they are working for a company that will do the right thing by them.
Corporate culture is vital today, especially with so many people working from home. Even working remotely, people who know they are a part of a larger enterprise that cares about them. When they feel appreciated in their position, they will work harder and be more productive. Since people are working from home and out of the direct sight of the bosses, the aspect of corporate culture is more important now than it was even a year ago.
If your corporate culture doesn’t come through during the interview, then the candidate might think they are going to be nothing but a number, and it becomes challenging for that person to become a loyal and dedicated employee. They might not accept an offer, or even if they do, they will start the job off with a negative feeling toward the company and might not stay on the job for long.
Communicate your corporate culture from the beginning. Let candidates know what the company does to keep people happy throughout the year. What kind of organized events are there, and what other benefits are available to an employee? Not just medical and dental, but things like the possibility of advancement and bonuses, or even recognition programs all work to keep people happy and motivated.
The best way to ensure that your position is communicated correctly, and you are getting the best possible candidate is to use The Essex Companies to do your recruiting. This is what we do. We understand the complicated relationship between the employer and the employee, and we are experts at communicating with candidates to set proper expectations, relay the culture of the business, and to ensure that you are getting the best person out there.
When it comes to running your business, you outsource tasks to professionals all of the time. You have an IT consultant to take care of your computers, and you hire an accountant to get your taxes done. It is time to hire professional recruiters to find the perfect candidate for your open position.
