5 Ways to Make the Process of Hiring Easier

Every business has wondered it: How can I recruit better? Every time a position opens, the hiring process begins – for some, it can be time consuming and arduous. The longer the job remains unfilled, the more workflow suffers and the harder it will be for the new hire to catch up. If a company chooses the wrong applicant, the job could be vacant again soon, which costs time and money. What could make the process of hiring easier? These five steps will make a difference.

How to Make the Process of Hiring Easier

Make sure your position title is clear and contains keywords candidates will understand. Assign someone to finalize the job description but get input about what hard and soft skills are needed. You might get suggestions from the outgoing worker during exit interviews. The department manager knows a lot about what skills are required, but you might also talk to coworkers and even upper management if possible. Anyone who has a say in who gets hired should be consulted to avoid debate when it’s time to select a new hire. 

If you’re wondering “how can I recruit better?” then consider prescreening. Prescreening with questionnaires or phone meetings will prevent wasting time interviewing people who don’t qualify. Pre-interview questions can gather information candidates didn’t list on their resumes. They can also reduce the amount of time you spend in later interviews.

Decide who should interview the applicants. If you think more than one person should be involved, line up people to do a panel interview to reduce the time frame and avoid question duplication. If you have trouble scheduling interviews because of busy schedules, you might consider establishing a pool of interviewers for some positions.

To find the best candidate, each interview should follow a set pattern. Questions should be standardized and preplanned. Ask all candidates the same questions and include behavioral and practical questions about critical skills and job requirements. Get complete, in-depth answers. If someone gives a generic answer, follow up until you get the information you want. Watch for and explore red flags thoroughly. If someone criticizes a former employer, for example, investigate further.

An excellent way to streamline the hiring process is to automate anything you can. Investing in technology like applicant tracking systems, prescreening questionnaires, personality testing, and background checks keeps the hiring process moving seamlessly. 

Online questionnaires help prescreen candidates, and thousands of companies subscribe to psychometric testing systems. Test results provide employers with personality profiling which helps find the best candidates for different work environments and requirements.

There are applicant tracking systems to fit into most budgets. They can distribute job descriptions to chosen career websites, screen candidates, and contact potential candidates from various job boards. Some programs can even search respondents for specific keywords or qualifications. Here’s what to look for in an applicant tracking system.

Integrating your employee background checks and applicant tracking system further streamlines your process. Clearly defining what checks you require and automating appropriate checks for each candidate through an experience background screening provider like InfoMart reduces time-to-hire. InfoMart can quickly and accurately check an applicant’s work history, educational credentials, and criminal record to ensure you get the right employees.  

Streamlining the hiring process can improve your recruiting productivity and save your organization thousands of dollars. Understanding existing inefficiencies and finding solutions will make your hiring process efficient.