Google “top hiring advice” and you’ll find millions of articles. Some of these articles have great tips, while some were clearly written by bots who have never interviewed a single person. So we turned to our in-house team of staffing experts to hear what it is they’d like to share with employers hiring in this current labor market.
Our staffing team (located in 9 offices around the country) is constantly interfacing with candidates and employers. They review resumes, make hires, and send our associates out on assignments every day, at a rapid speed. They staff for a variety of industries and glean a lot of insight into the current labor market based on their day-to-day experience.
So we asked them: What is your hiring advice for employers looking to bring on new team members today? What would you tell them to help them navigate this complex market and get the best candidates?
Check out what they said below!
Make Sure Your Pay Rates are Competitive
Job ad not getting a lot of attention? Candidates not meeting your expectations? It may be because your pay rate isn’t competitive. If you’re not sure how comparable positions are paying, head to a job site like Indeed or ZipRecruiter to see what pay rates employers in your area are offering for similar positions. And make sure to drill down past the position name – position descriptions can vary widely at different companies.
Don’t Judge a Candidate Strictly on Their Resume
The old saying goes: Don’t judge a book by its cover. And according to our recruiters, don’t judge a candidate solely on their resume. This was a common theme that many of our recruiters mentioned. A weak resume or gaps in a resume shouldn’t necessarily disqualify a candidate; they could indicate a shift in life experiences or a career change.
On the same page, give green candidates a chance! Individuals right out of school, or wanting to get into a different industry, may not have a proven track record. But if they have a positive attitude and can be trained, they’re a great candidate, and could be a wonderful, long-term employee. We’ve all been given a chance at one time or another in our careers.
Create a Hiring Schedule and Stick To It
We’ve all been there – you interview for a job and are told you’ll hear back by the end of the week, and then . . . radio silence. Make sure to set a hiring timeline and share it with your candidates so they know what to expect along the way. Then, stick to that timeline as closely as you can, and communicate if unforeseen challenges cause any delays.
Act Fast When the Right Candidate Comes Along
We’ve all had it happen – you interview a fantastic candidate, and then a pressing issue comes up that requires immediate attention, and when you get around to making that candidate an offer they’ve already accepted another job.
The candidates for your job have inevitably applied to other jobs, so act with urgency. If the perfect candidate comes along, don’t let that resume linger on your desk for a week or two – act quickly to engage that candidate, and if you want to make an offer, do so promptly.
So there you have it – some great nuggets of hiring advice from the DPI team. We know that hiring takes up a lot of time, and time is money. If you’re ready to get some outside help with hiring, get in touch with us! DPI Staffing would love to learn more about your business and how we can assist in the hiring process.
