Hiring the right people can be hard at any time. Throw in a skills shortage and a tough labor market and you’re facing more pressure than ever.
According to Forbes, 75% of employers globally are having a hard time filling roles this year. Meanwhile, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that quit rates remain high among many industries, particularly in hospitality.
So, how can you ensure you have an effective hiring strategy in place?
Below, we dive into 7 quick tips to supercharge your hiring process and win over the best talent.
But if you're after a more comprehensive deep-dive, you can also download our 3-part series on building the ultimate hiring experience for free.
1. Understand what your business really needs
The key to a successful hiring process lies before you even post the first job ad.
Be sure you take the time to understand what type of person your workplace needs. Speak to employees to understand where there’s a gap and what skills are required to fill it. Don’t rely on previous job ad postings, as what you need may have changed.
2. Set clear expectations from the get-go
Too often, hiring managers make the mistake of overcomplicating job ads.
Make sure you lay out expectations clearly. Include the responsibilities of the role you’re hiring for and outline any essential skills or qualifications the candidate needs to have as a bare minimum.
Avoid using vague or generic language, such as: “Exciting new opportunity available at [insert business]”. As a job seeker, there’s nothing more annoying than being unclear about what a position with a business is and what it’ll involve.
3. Consider your interview process – and the people doing the interviewing
A structured interview process is integral in hiring no matter the size of business or industry you are in. Ensure you develop one that involves a specific evaluation criteria. This allows you to compare candidates objectively and without bias.
Make sure the interviewer is someone who can speak about what the role will involve and what the business’ key goals are. Make sure the interviewer is fit to answer any questions that will likely arise in the interview, particularly ones that involve hours and pay.
4. Leverage tech where you can
To hire candidates faster — before your competitors can snap them up — it’s essential to streamline the hiring process with modern technology, including an applicant tracking system (ATS).
Deputy’s new hire software makes it easy to track and manage applicants through the whole recruitment process, allowing businesses to secure talent in a fraction of the usual time — and giving managers more hours back in the day.
5. Research pay rates and benefits
Always do your research on the latest wage and hour laws in the state you're hiring, including updates to minimum wage and overtime.
It also pays to research the salary and benefits your competitors are offering to ensure you’re making attractive offers and reducing the chance of losing staff to a business across the street.
6. Don’t skip on references!
References remain key in the hiring process. Ensure you do at least one on each prospective candidate.
Consider questions like: What is their work style? What are their strengths? What are their areas for development? Would you hire them again? How would the average customer describe them?
The answers to these questions will help you to determine whether they’d be an ideal fit for your workplace.
7. Continuously improve the process
Regularly collect feedback from the hiring team, candidates, and new hires.
Use this feedback to identify areas for improvement in the hiring process and refine it over time.
Final thoughts
By following these tips, businesses can set themselves up for a more effective and successful hiring process, leading to better decisions and a stronger workforce.
To learn more strategies that will help you hire the right talent, download our free hiring guide today.
And if you want to truly streamline your hiring process and cut recruitment admin by up to 50%, start a free trial of Deputy in just a few clicks.
