Recruiting, like marketing, is most effective when it is targeted, planned and executed with consistency. Start with the basic question, “What makes your company a great choice for potential employees?” Having a written Culture Statement that is alive and well will help you to answer this question. Cross checking your Culture Statement with your employees’ experience should be a regular practice. Now is a good time to ask your current team — they’ll tell you.

Next, identify the best ways to reach potential employees for the position you are hiring. It likely will vary based on the position. Develop the “advertisement” to attract them and be creative. The rules of good advertising apply — great heading, good content and a call to action. Include the aspects of your company that make it a great place for the type of person you wish to attract, as well as the “spirit” of the person you desire. Additionally, always be on the lookout for good people who can bring value to your organization. Make recruiting something that is ongoing, not crisis driven. Remember “Good to Great.”

Make hiring a

de-selection process

Your time is valuable. Don’t waste it interviewing potential employees who don’t possess the character qualities you need or don’t fit into your culture.

You can improve your results and save time by incorporating a de-selection process, using a phone screen and group pre-interview assessment to test for integrity, work ethic and passion. If you design the group pre-interview assessment properly, those have the “fire in the oven” will stand out and those who don’t will leave (de-select themselves), saving you time and hiring mistakes.

Your written vision, mission, and culture statements are a valuable tool at this point to assist in the de-selection process. During the group pre-interview meeting, use these tools with the position’s KPIs to communicate the high standards of behavior and performance expected by all within your company. If you effectively communicate these criteria, those you would not want on your team will depart, leaving you with the “cream of the crop.”

What are you looking for at this stage? Passion, confidence and the desire to grow. These attributes are much more important than knowledge or experience, which can be taught. Stay disciplined and only interview candidates who make it through both the phone and group interview steps.

Once you decide to schedule someone for an interview, e-mail them the job description so expectations are clear before they arrive. Have the candidate meet with multiple people, when possible and employ behavioral interview techniques and tests to probe for the skills and competencies that are most critical. Be willing to turn down candidates who are not the right fit and don’t settle for less than the best.

Believe you can

and you will

Sounds simple, but too often we defeat ourselves before we start. Telling yourself “I just can’t get good help” becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead, start telling yourself “I have a great team committed to achieving our goals.” Even if it’s not yet true — you can make it so. Remember the objective when hiring is to be able to say three years later that, “Knowing what I know now, I’d hire this person again in a heartbeat.”

Rob Garibay is a local business owner and business coach with 30+ years of business experience. Forward your business questions to 573-6537 or robgaribay@actioncoach.com.