Put your candidates at ease

Finding the right people to join your team is one of the most important things you can do as a leader. ?A great team will facilitate goal achievement, and ensure a healthy, rewarding culture for all.? Yet, it is common for interviewers and HR departments to focus on building tight lists of questions, assessment exercises, and defining interview panels without thinking about the experience being created for the candidate.?

Sure, you need to learn about each candidate and assess their potential.? But they need to learn about you and the company culture.? There’s nothing wrong with putting the person at ease and giving them a chance to know you as a person.? In fact, it’s essential!?

Interviews which consist of sticking a candidate in a room and rotating a series of interviewers through the room are draining for candidates and don’t give a good feel for the company or the teams involved.? Zoom can actually be friendlier since the interviewer and candidates are in their own space.? ??That said, if you do proceed with the one-room option, make sure that someone is assigned to ensure that the candidate gets comfort breaks, water, and a decent lunch.? And give them this information in advance.

If your candidate is coming a long distance, it’s even more important that you show interest and care in helping them with trip details, local places to stay, and show interest in their comfort.? Be human.? You’re sending a message about your company if you insist on cramming cheap same day (5 am to midnight) travel with multiple connections, meetings with six department heads, no breaks, and a vending machine lunch.? Maybe that’s an accurate message, but hopefully not!? That needn’t mean five-star hotels and first-class travel, it just means that arrangements should illustrate that you care about their overall experience because your company cares about its employees.? ??

And whether or not someone is making the effort to travel to see you or is coming from the same town, a quick wrap-up meeting with the hiring manager is a nice touch, rather than letting them without a thank you and discussion of next steps.?

Remember, the most important person in ensuring job satisfaction and engagement is the immediate supervisor.? So, if that’s you, it’s up to you to show your candidates what it will be like to be on your team. ?And if that means you need to make some adjustments in your approach, go for it.? The impact will be felt by both existing employees and those who are considering joining your team.

Adapt.Lead.Succeed

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