Tips for Selecting the Right Candidate

Chaises accueil entrevue d'embauche
Folksy
April 13 2021

Recruiting is a profession! A human resources specialist has, in principle, all the basic tools to write an offer and select the right talent. Managers who are more generalists, on the other hand, can quickly feel overwhelmed. In any case, with the multiplication of recruitment channels and the explosion of specialized social networks, advice and concrete solutions are always welcome.

No one will deny it: a growing company needs talent—top talent. But finding that one-in-a-million employee, the one whose skills perfectly match the tasks assigned and the responsibilities offered, requires a combination of availability (defining the position and selecting the best candidates takes time), rigor, precision, open-mindedness (you have to think about the company’s future) and creativity (to make it all attractive) …but also the ability to answer the following question: How do you choose the right candidates?

Within the company, a technician, manager or HR director will be happy to write and publish the job offer, and then choose the profile(s) likely to meet the company’s needs, even in the medium and long term. On the other hand, some companies call upon recruitment firms or HR consultants who will take charge of this “hiring mission” in record time and according to a meticulously developed strategy. The reasons for this choice can vary widely: a lack of time or specialized resources, a more specialized mandate or a labour shortage context are all reasons that can motivate this choice.

There are, however, an infinite number of nuances between the two approaches. First, while any HR manager, regardless of level or experience, can write an effective job description and accurately identify interesting skills, attracting THE right person requires more than a well-written paragraph of text and ordinary HR know-how.

Attract Top Talent with Effective Job Postings

It is well known that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Admittedly, the expression has a certain triviality that does not suit the field of human resources. But it has the merit of emphasizing one point: you have to create desire. Recruiting means “attracting”, seducing. For a company, being attractive means presenting itself from its best angles. Namely: what makes the company unique, attractive? What is it that makes people want to work there, to invest their passion and energy? On this point, the Career page of the company’s website can play a determining role. The ad, with a specific contact, and the company’s website can jointly convey many messages. Starting with the company’s key values and human and, why not, cultural and economic commitments. Mentioning the conditions, benefits or quality of the work environment will also help. Who would want to evolve in a negative environment?

Talk to the Right Candidate

Another point about attractiveness is that potential candidates must be addressed in the best possible way. Of course, the context, the field of activity and the position offered (and therefore the salary, which remains at the discretion of the employer) influence the information delivered and the form adopted. However, common rules provide the basis for optimal communication of the offer—because a recruitment campaign functions first and foremost as a communication campaign, yes! When you want to hire someone, the first question to ask yourself is: “Who is my target audience?” or, better yet, “who would be my ideal candidate?” Knowing who you are “talking to” allows you to define all the professional and human qualities required. These qualities can then be detailed in the job description, while being carefully aligned with the responsibilities offered.

If you are looking for a very experienced profile, you will not forget the prerequisites. If you want “new blood” fresh out of school or university, the prerequisites will disappear in favor of, for example, a “young”, playful, dynamic tone, and a vision of the future to be discovered and to grow together. Recruitment responds to a need, but first of all, to an objective: what do you want to achieve with this position? What impact, what growth vector can this position represent? What do you want candidates to remember about the tasks to be performed? Is this a position with the possibility of growth?

Answering all of these questions will help you write and communicate the job offer wisely (newspapers, job boards, professional social networks, etc.).

Now... How to Pick the Right Candidate?

The second part of a recruitment process is not easy. First of all, the processing of resumes can also be time consuming. Figures mentioned in one of our previous articles speak for themselves: in the United States, 95% of large companies and 50% of SMBs use automated recruitment software to assist them in the first selection stage.[1] In other words, the benefits of an ATS solution should not be overlooked.

Then, a company that wants to analyze the resumes in an optimal way must establish an evaluation grid. The most interesting aspects to look for? First of all, a summary of the candidate’s career. Then, the last two positions held, the periods of inactivity if any, the key words regarding the tasks performed so far (which must coincide with those proposed by the position), the quality of the language of course (grammar and spelling remain infallible criteria) and the length of the CV (more than 3 pages complicate things). To this can be added professional stability, or the progression of responsibilities. After studying the resumes, rankings are possible between candidates who perfectly match the job profile and those who remain interesting but for whom questions arise.

Finally comes the job interview. At this stage, the selection criteria become less technical and more… human. When it comes to attitude, the recruiter’s attitude is just as important as the candidate’s. Many recruiting professionals advise, beyond the illegal questions that are obviously to be banned (and which concern age, origins, religion, political and union opinions, private life, etc.), to focus on the present and future prospects rather than going back over past failures or “weaknesses”. The wise recruiter who is committed to making an intelligent choice should explain the implications of the position from the outset and focus on what the candidate thinks they can bring to the company.

So, what’s your idea of the “perfect” recruitment? Talk to our HR solutions experts today!

Create the perfect recruiting strategy with an ATS:

Discover Folks ATS' essential features!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

[1] Amélie Van De Wynckele, « Quand les robots et ATS sélectionnent les CV », Jobs.ca, [en ligne]

Sources:

https://www.qapa.fr/news/7-raisons-qui-font-que-votre-offre-demploi-est-ignoree-par-les-candidats-701/

https://www.grenier.qc.ca/nouvelles/13676/les-meilleurs-conseils-pour-rediger-une-offre-demploi-performante

https://www.adecco.fr/blog/2017/june/recrutement-questions-a-ne-pas-poser-entretien-embauche/

https://www.qapa.fr/news/entretien-5-questions-a-ne-poser-a-candidat-414/

https://www.regionsjob.com/conseils/8-questions-interdites-en-entretien-dembauche.html

http://metier-entrepreneur.org/2011/09/conseils-pour-lanalyse-dun-cv/

http://detailformation.com/ressources-humaines/analyser-les-curriculum-vitae/

Related articles

How to Convince Your Boss You Need an HRIS

It’s not always easy to convince your management to invest in HR technology to achieve your business goals…

Read more
How an HR Software Helped an SMB Save $175,000 in One Year

We often hear about HR technologies and the value they bring to the organizations that use them, but what about the facts? This case study, conducted by an external human resources consultant, highlights the various positive impacts…

Read more
10 Great (and Free) Employee Recognition Ideas

We know what you are thinking… can it really be possible to reward employees without spending a dime? Every employee loves to feel appreciated and receive recognition for a job well done…

Read more
10 Employee Onboarding Emails to Save You Time

Onboarding emails remain a must to welcome a new employee properly. Numbers don’t lie: while only 34% of employees read HR emails, the onboarding email is opened by 91% of new employees…

Read more
HR Strategies: Definition, Examples and Essential Steps

HR strategies are designed to optimize a company’s productivity by improving the well-being and motivation of its employees. Here is our step-by-step guide.

Read more
Human Resources Today