Looking for new hires is a daunting task. You publish a job posting and get inundated with hundreds of applications. How can you possibly wade through them all in a timely manner? The right approach makes all the difference.
Find out how with these tips from Future Force, one of the top staffing firms in Miami Lakes:
Identify your criteria.
Before you look at a single application, it’s important to identify your criteria first. In other words, what are you looking for in your ideal hire? Which skills listed in the job posting are the most important? What do you absolutely need from a new employee and what can you live without? When you have a better understanding of what your deal-breakers are and the areas where you’re willing to negotiate, it will be easier to spot those candidates who are a good match.
Sort the candidates.
Whether you’re getting paper applications or everything is online, create piles or folders where you can easily sort applications into “yes,” “no” and “maybe” categories. Make sure you’re screening candidates using the same criteria you outlined from the step above, so you’re fairly evaluating each one. And if you see red flags – such as blanks on an application, outdated certifications, or late applications – then automatically put those into the rejection category.
Review the “maybes.”
Once you’ve weeded out those candidates you’re not interested in interviewing, focus on the “maybe” candidates. Read through each application once again and double check whether they have the minimum skills and experience you need. Think too what it is that made you uncertain about them in the first place. Once you’ve reviewed all the applications, you might feel differently about a particular candidate.
Conduct phone screens.
When it comes to evaluating candidates, setting up 10- to 15-minute phone screens is a fast and easy way to learn more about each one without investing a huge amount of time. So once you have your list of candidates finalized, schedule phone screens with each one. Make sure you ask the same or similar questions so you can more easily compare them and then decide which ones to bring in for an interview.
Some red flags to look for as you’re screening applications include:
- Applications that are sloppy and poorly written. These indicate the level of work quality you can expect if the candidate gets hired.
- Applications where the candidate clearly didn’t follow directions. Again, this an indication of what you can expect from them on the job.
- Applications with large employment gaps that are unexplained elsewhere.
Ready for professional help with your screening and hiring process?
Call the experts at Future Force. As one of the leading staffing firms in Miami Lakes, we can help with your hiring process from start to finish, including sourcing candidates, screening and evaluating them, and helping you make the best hiring decisions for your company. Contact us today to learn more.
