Whether you are searching for a job or looking to hire a person – the interview process is a shop window into the organisation. Talented people are going to be well-schooled in what to avoid when they are searching for their next employer.
However, it goes both ways. One of the essential skills you will learn in online business management courses is those of managing people. If you are going to expand your business and encourage growth, you are going to have to employ the right staff. One wrong move and you could be battling HR issues rather than pursuing your KPIs.
But you might not be the employer that those talented people were hoping to join anyway. You could easily be missing out of some impressive talent because you do not provide the ideal workplace for their needs.
Here are some of the signs that you might not be the potential employer that talent is looking to work with.
You can’t explain the role
The people you are seeking to hire may walk away from your post if you leave them with a lot of unanswered questions. You are communicating that you have not thought through the role and you are not confident with what you want to offer. If you can answer all the questions about the job description that a candidate can pose, then you will be on track to move the talent forward to the next stage of the recruitment process.
Your interview process is disorganised
Your hiring process is a reflection of your attitude to business. If you are disorganised, then you will suggest you are unprofessional. Small things will make a difference, such as your communication with your candidates. If you are vague and limited in the information and the candidate has to do a lot of searching for details, you will appear rude and potentially someone who misleads employers.
You do not follow up on references
You would think that your candidates would be glad that you do not follow up on references. There is always a risk for candidates that someone from a past post might say something that does not resonate with you. However, if you do not show a decent attitude to a robust screening process, you will appear haphazard.
Your potential employee should be looking at you to see that you are the right fit for them. However, if you appear like you are not that bothered, or are a little desperate to fill your position, you might not be that right fit.
You suggest unreasonable working hours
Wellbeing and attitude to the care of employees are essential. You need to make working hours reasonable, and you need to be clear on the breaks you offer. Remember these are people with lives and balance will be vital to them. Wanting a hard worker is obviously essential – but it needs to be reasonable.
You are cynical about the person who is leaving
Unprofessionalism is going to go down like a lead balloon. If you badmouth the previous employee, you show that there is conflict in your organisation. There is obviously a reason the last person left, as there is a role available. However, this should not be a part of the interview. Any candidate hearing this negativity should walk out the door and not accept your position.
The questions you ask are inappropriate
The nature of the questions shows off an organisation. If the interview ponders inappropriately on personal matters, then you are not following the right protocol for forming a hiring decision. The focus should always be on the skills and experience of the candidates.
People the candidates meet project unhappiness
The candidates will be looking around. They will be assessing the body language and general attitude of current employees. Do people appear stressed? Do they avoid seeking out the candidates to welcome them and show interest in them? Are there areas where people are working in silence or potentially unsafe areas?
Finally… remember it goes both ways
If you are a candidate for a job reading this guide to business owners, you might be surprised how much power you have in the interview process. The employment experience needs to be a good fit for both parties. If you are unimpressed by what you see during the interview, you might want to walk away from the role. Work forms a significant part of our life. Therefore, if the employers break these significant rules of good practice – walk away.
As an employer or if you are a job candidate, you are on show throughout the process. You need to represent your best self.
Nick Cooper
8
8
1
