Figuring Out The “Who” For Your Business
Posted on in Recruiting Strategy
Jim Collins said, “the most important decisions that businesspeople make are not “what” decisions, but “who” decisions.” We couldn’t agree more. Your business strategy might not be all that different from your competitors, but you can differentiate your company through execution which lies in the hands of your people.
So, how do you ensure you make the right “who” decisions? We have found that companies that have a well-defined talent strategy that is linked to their business strategy are much better equipped to identify and assess talent. When you have a business plan that articulates the expected outcomes of each role, it demystifies what success looks like so you can align your team at each stage of the interview process.
We also know that a simple, focused, and intentionally-designed three step interview process allows you to dig far beyond the resume and uncover the information you need to make the right hiring decision. In fact, more and more companies are moving toward using various exercises or simulations during interviews to further observe a candidate’s skills as opposed to simply discussing past experiences or capabilities. Business Insider recently profiled one tech company that’s really putting the job simulation concept to the test. Don’t worry if you aren’t ready to go as far as they have. There are many different activities you could ask someone to do that would demonstrate the required skills for the role.
In addition to finding someone with the right skills, screening candidates for culture fit is something clients ask us about a lot. WD40 asks one simple question to ensure their candidates are a cultural fit. While we believe it’s not as simple as asking one question, this does demonstrate that your organization must be clear on its values and determine the questions or activities that appropriately allow you to assess this aspect of fit.
Last, but not least, don’t let the importance of soft skills get lost in the shuffle. ERE’s has some great tips on how to evaluate this aspect of candidate’s as well.
Learn more about making the right “who” decisions with a recording of our webinar “Nailing the Hiring Trifecta: Assessing A Candidate’s Skill, Attitude, and Cultural Fit.”
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