We live in a time where talented people want to work for companies that care about them. And that means organizations need to become more sensitive to the expectations of those applying to work for your organization. Recruitment is not just about simply finding and paying someone. Its about establishing connections with applicants and dealing with them in a positive and ethical manner. Bad hiring experiences can lead to negative reviews and feedback online. And that means being responsible for how you deal with candidates is essential.
Here are some ways to practice responsible hiring and establish a better image of your organization in the eyes of candidates:
Disclose Your Hiring Process
A great way to set the right expectations and reduce tensions during the hiring process is openly sharing the process of how your organization hires staff. This is can be done by creating a detailed “how we hire” section on your website covering the details of how candidates can begin the recruitment process. This can include frequently asked questions that candidates ask with answers. This shows transparency and reassures candidates of what to expect when they apply for a position.
Create transparency through informing interested candidates with relevant information.
Establish Your Brand’s Integrity
Many companies shy away from showing what people may say about them online. But this only works against them rather than for them. Rather be transparent about your strengths and weaknesses as an employer and make available links to your employer review sites like Glassdoor to showcase what employees say about your company. This will build a strong sense of transparency and trust in those interested in working for your organization.
Be open and transparent about what others have to say about your company and hiring experience.
Clearly Define Your Job Positions
Advertising a job position is foundational to attracting the right candidates. And the best way to do this is to articulate clearly the requirements and expectations of a position. Don’t make the mistake of being vague, or unclear about what the job entails. Rather outline exactly what is expected like the key responsibilities, qualifications, experience.
Spend enough time writing job descriptions and have it proofread by your colleagues, hiring managers, and HR team.
Set Realistic Candidate Requirements
One of the biggest frustrations for many candidates searching for a new position is finding jobs that have unrealistic expectations. Many companies seem to create immense lists of responsibilities and requirements that might be over the top and scare off talented candidates you want. Rather than inflated requirements, companies need to be realistic about the necessary experience a candidate needs, what skills are required or what they expect from a candidate.
Have a realistic expectations of what you expect from candidates, otherwise you might be chasing them away.
Be Honest about Remuneration
There is nothing worse than having false expectations about how much your salary will be. Companies may be vague, and unclear about actual remuneration packages which can later cause friction and dissatisfaction. Rather be open and clear about what your company can offer and what the limits are in terms of earning and benefits. Being open will help build trust and strengthen loyalty with candidates.
Be honest and open about remuneration and benefits, and ensure the right expectations are set.
Evaluate Candidates Fairly
Not all candidates are the equal, and that is where the challenge begins. Companies may not have the resources to evaluate candidates effectively and fairly. Today with talent assessment tools like Testlify, accurately accessing applicants does not need to be a guessing game. These tools offer intelligent automated testing that enables your organization to accurately evaluate candidates, helping you to more effectively select the best people.
Simply use a talent assessment tool like Testlify to accurately evaluate applicants and find the best people.
Practice Inclusiveness, Encourage Diversity.
We live in a diverse world where people from different nations, cultures and preferences live and work together. It is up to organizations to be sensitive to these differences. And to invest in hiring a diverse workforce that reflects the realities of this new world. This will not only benefit your employees, but it will also help you build a more dynamic organization.
Make diversity and inclusiveness part of your recruitment policy and build a better organization.
Show Respect for Candidates
Applying for a new position can be daunting for even the most experienced candidate. For this reason applicants should be shown the same level of respect, whether top end executives or entry-level positions. Showing every candidate respect will establish a strong reputation with applicants. Positive application experiences will contribute to attracting talented candidates as your organization is recognized as a candidate friendly organization.
Ensure your staff treat all applicants with the same respect and encourage a positive hiring experience.
Ensure a Positive Interview Experience
Interviews are stressful for candidates. This is an opportunity for employers to establish a positive connection with candidates and encourage an relaxed and positive interview experience. Take the time to plan interviews, and have a clear format to follow to maintain consistency and standards. Ensure you ask the same set of questions to all candidates to ensure uniformity and to better compare responses.
Take the time to plan interviews to ensure a relaxed and pleasant experience for candidates.
Communicate at Every Step
Applying for a new job can be an emotional rollercoaster for candidates. They often have to face many rejections before finding a job. But what’s even worse is when companies fail to even take the time to inform them of the rejection. If candidates do not make the final round for interviews, inform those candidates. But also those that are interviewed but not selected. This will at the least ensure they feel respected and valued.
Ensure to communicate with candidates and inform them of their progress in the hiring process.
Responsible hiring starts with your company and those involved in the decision-making process. Discuss how your organization plans amongst your team to improve the hiring experience for candidates and outline the methodologies you plan to use. This will help your team uphold the highest standards for your organization. And practising responsible hiring will ultimately improve your organizations hiring effectiveness and help strengthen your image amongst applicants. And you will eventually become a more desirable organization that will be sought out by more talented candidates.
