According to a report by one background screening analytics firm, nearly one-fourth of 2,882 job candidates admitted to exaggerating the truth on their resumes. In short: many candidates lie. Whether it’s a small exaggeration or a big one, the end result is that you don’t know who you’re really getting when it comes time to hire.
That’s why, as one of Dade County’s top staffing agencies, Future Force knows it’s important to go well beyond the resume when you’re engaged in the hiring process. Here’s how to do that:
Ask behavioral questions.
It’s easy for many job candidates to make themselves look good on paper. But when you ask behavioral interview questions, you can better gauge how a candidate thinks and will respond to situations at your company should you hire them. For instance, you can ask something like: “Tell me about ABC project you said you managed on your resume. How did you go about meeting such an aggressive timeline?” How they answer will give you a lot of insight into their honesty on their resume, as well as their level of experience.
Ask questions that are specific to the job.
In addition to digging into details about their employment history, it’s important to ask job-specific questions to help you assess how they would handle the challenges of the role you’re hiring for. For instance, if managing team conflict will be a part of their job, then ask for an example of how they’ve done so successfully in the past. Or, you can talk about specific challenges, responsibilities, or projects the role entails and how the candidate would handle them if hired.
Don’t skip checking references.
Even if you find what you think is the perfect hire, don’t extend an offer until you’ve checked references. Candidates can look great on paper and perform well in interviews. But you’ll get even more detail – and sometimes the real scoop – when you call their references. In fact, doing so can save you from potentially costly hiring mistakes.
Give them homework.
If you have a few equally strong candidates and are having a hard time making a hiring decision, give them each a homework assignment. It doesn’t need to be anything overly complex, but the work they turn in will give you an indication of their level of enthusiasm and attention to detail.
Need more help hiring for your job openings?
Call Future Force. As one of Dade County’s top staffing agencies, we can provide you with fast access to the high-quality employees you need, whether on a full-time, temporary or contract basis. Contact us today to learn more.