Every recruiter and hiring manager can share stories of application nightmares. This was especially true during the height of the recession as thousands of candidates responded to one job posting and most of them weren’t remotely qualified. If you are finding yourself drowning in a sea of applications, here are some tips and tricks to adjust your plan of attack and attract the right candidates.
- A Day in the Life. A great way to give candidates a bigger picture of what will be expected in the role is to provide a snapshot of what it will be like every day. Include a description of your company culture, the environment, and the types of personalities who work in your office. Include the day to day functions and expectations for the role.
- Ask questions of the applicant. A good way to determine a good from a bad candidate is to ask specific questions in your ad that they must answer as part of their cover letter. Ask for them to provide a short paragraph about how their experience is a fit with the opportunity or to describe a time they worked on a similar project. You want to encourage them to share a little about their personality so you can determine if they might be a fit with your current team.
- Cap the response with an application deadline. One way to curb the number of applications is to only provide a short window for interested candidates to apply. Let them know in the posting that you will be accepting resumes and cover letters through a specified date and any received after that time will not be considered.
- Review the resumes. Once you do receive the applications from the candidates it is time to begin the reviewing process. Look at their experience, their skills, and the personality that they have expressed in the cover letter. Try to narrow the field down to 10 candidates with whom you will conduct a phone screen. Select the three top candidates for face to face interviews. This should give you plenty of information to make a hiring decision.
Are you looking for more hiring advice? If you are looking for employment agencies near Houston, contact ProSource today.