There are several things you can do to optimise your hiring process. In this article we will look at seven simple key steps that can sky rocket your effectveness and increase your companies overall talent level.
1) Streamline the Application Process
First impressions are crucial and often the first interaction a candidate has with your company is through the application process. To ensure a smooth and positive experience, clarify your requirements and expectations in the job posting. Put crucial questions at the beginning of the form, rather than the end, to avoid frustration for applicants who are not a fit. Aim to keep the application process simple and straightforward.
2) Maximize Screening Calls
Screening calls provide a great opportunity to get to know candidates and assess their motivation. Verify their availability, and discuss employment conditions like salary, bonuses, working hours, etc. Prepare thoroughly for each call, read resumes, and have clear questions or a note-taking template. Consistent structure will help you compare candidates fairly.
3) Utilize Skills Assessments
Skills assessments help evaluate a candidate's technical and soft skills. Utilize tools like Merreo's Test Library, which offers assessments for various skills, to select the best candidates. Skills assessments eliminate interviewer bias and provide an objective selection process. Technical skills assessments can measure proficiency in specific areas like Angular, JavaScript, or Hubspot CRM. Tests measuring soft skills, cognitive abilities, or personality traits, like the 16 types test or critical thinking test, offer valuable insights into a candidate's emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and cognitive abilities.
4) Optimize Interviews
Interviews are a time and cost-intensive part of the selection process, so conduct a limited number. Consider video interviews, which are becoming the norm due to the pandemic. Make the interview process objective by using structured or semi-structured questions. Prepare a list of questions and stick to it in all interviews, allowing some flexibility based on each candidate's experience. Provide clear information on the scope, duration, participants, time, location, and necessary materials to give candidates a chance to prepare and have a positive experience.
5) Maintain Good Communication
Maintaining effective communication with candidates projects a positive image of your company and shows that you value their time and effort. Explain the selection process stages, keep applicants updated on their status, and ensure all communication aligns with your brand image. Good communication can impact your company's reputation, as 83% of candidates research companies' ratings and reviews before deciding to apply, according to a 2017 study by Glassdoor and Aptitude Research Partners. Treat all candidates respectfully, even if they are not hired.
6) Automate Auxiliary Hiring Tasks
By automating or simplifying parts of the hiring process, costs can be reduced, efficiency improved, and the selection process accelerated. This enhances the candidate experience and can help attract top talent.
Examples of tasks that can be automated include resume screening, skill assessments, performance evaluations, and candidate ranking. Interview scheduling can also be streamlined with automatic email invitations.
However, it's crucial to be mindful of how auto-responses and templates can affect your company's image. Personal interaction should still be available for applicants, especially as they progress in the selection process.
7) Evaluate Hiring Results
If some aspects of the hiring process need improvement, analyze what went wrong and make adjustments for future hiring rounds.
Track metrics like cost per hire and time to hire to measure efficiency in the selection process. With these metrics, you can compare results over time and continuously optimize the process. The cost per hire in the India is 25,000Rs on average according to Bersin by Deloitte. Evaluating hiring success is vital, but only a tenth of Indian companies are currently doing so. By tracking successful hires, you can stay ahead of the competition.
Improving your hiring process leads to better hires. Finding top talent is challenging, but streamlining your selection process decreases the likelihood of a poor hire, saves costs, and shortens the time-to-hire. This maximizes resources and presents a more favorable brand image, which is crucial in attracting the right candidates. If you haven't tried Merreo yet, sign up for a free trial to experience how it can streamline your hiring process, making decisions faster, easier, and unbiased.
