November 14, 2011
Streamlining the Hiring Process for Success
 Beth Cliff By Beth Cliff, High Tech Engineering Recruitment Manager
Fourth quarter hiring is in full swing, and candidates are actively and selectively interviewing. On average, the hiring process from the time a resume is submitted to offer and acceptance is 7-10 days, and the majority of candidates we are placing, roughly 85%, are currently in full-time roles while looking for their next opportunity. One key to successfully hiring the most qualified candidate for your organization is having a streamlined hiring process. Be sure that everyone who will be involved in the hiring and decision making is available and committed to the process. (more…)
August 1, 2011
To Counter Offer or Not to Counter Offer?
Whether a prized executive has been actively looking for another opportunity, or unexpectedly recruited for a new position, should you make a counter offer to keep him or her? (more…)
July 7, 2011
 Shannon Tinker Hiring the Right Candidate:
Set Bait, Cut Bait
By Shannon Tinker
While staffing industry pros are acutely aware of the ins and outs of finding and closing candidates, I’d bet the rest of the world doesn’t spend much time contemplating the hiring process. In fact, during a candidate rich market, employers may land their dream candidate by skipping a bunch of hiring “steps,” including “the close.” But what happens when the market shifts?
An improving job market isn’t all roses and smiley faces. Simple supply and demand dictates, and unfortunately a flourishing job market also, lead to losing more candidates to competing opportunities. While tragic, some losses are unavoidable. Yet, other times a quick re-read of the “Closing Candidates 101” handbook may give you the upper hand.
Closing the right candidate really requires little or no sales ability whatsoever and is remarkably simple. Really. (more…)
June 2, 2011
 Joanna Edwards Closing Candidates: A How-To in a Hot Job Market
By Joanna Edwards, Executive Recruiter, High Tech Sales & Marketing Division Manager
An undisputable fact: the job market is heating up. Candidates seeking employment no longer go months without returned phone calls, but rather, quite the opposite. This morning when speaking with a candidate who declared he was ‘actively looking’ for a new role, I was informed that since beginning his career search on Thursday of last week he had received 152 emails regarding job opportunities. An entirely separate call indicated the same trend. This candidate, who was directly recruited out of her organization, had to choose from one of four offers – all with a 10% increase in base salary and a significant equity component. These are all very solid signs that the job market is better than last year. But with a positive shift in the economy comes a new set of challenges that hiring managers must be prepared to combat. After 17 phone interviews, six on-site meetings, three reference checks and everyone on your team agreeing that this (and only this) person is the ideal fit, you cannot afford to lose him. So in a candidate’s market, what is the best approach when at the offer stage? Below are some suggestions to help you and the team make a successful hire.
1. Knowledge is power. It may sound obvious, but the best way to close a candidate is to have as much information as possible, and this starts from the minute you first look at their resume. After deciding you are interested in having a conversation/interview with the candidate, begin to ask questions. Here is what you need to ask the candidate – once at the beginning and again as the interview process continues: (more…)
May 23, 2011
What Employers Need to Know About Background Checks
When hiring someone into your company, you vet them for their experience and ability to present themselves professionally. You verify their expertise and skills first by absorbing their resume and then getting acquainted in one or more interviews. Most hiring managers have a good sense of people and can feel pretty confident about the personal qualities, skill set and cultural fit to the company. Nonetheless, taking someone at face value can be risky. A background check should be a policy routine; and all offers made by the company should be contingent on passing a background check.
Cost of Hiring
A background check is crucial for many reasons. The cost of recruiting and hiring a new person is expensive; estimates range at 1.5 to 5 times the annual salary. Think of the staff time involved, the recruiting fees or internal HR department costs, advertising, travel and relocation expenses, training costs and time. (more…)
April 14, 2011
Shannon Tinker How to Hire the Best Candidate: Get Out of Your Own Way
By Shannon Tinker
Last month, I offered some pre-resume reviewing steps for preserving time and sanity during the hiring process. Hiring isn’t rocket science. You get approval, decide what you want and need and then go about finding “It.” What’s surprising is what happens when you do find “It.” Managers make tough decisions daily, yet when faced with a viable candidate they don’t always make their move.
Even veteran managers accumulate reasons for why they shouldn’t extend a job offer to the right candidate. I’m not suggesting that you should jump on any candidate with Java on his resume and a pulse. (This isn’t 1999!) But it is interesting and heartbreaking when “best practices” and fear get in the way of hiring your next star employee. (more…)
October 26, 2010
Make Your Offer Bullet-Proof; Close the Candidate from the Get-Go
The cost of hiring is significant. It starts with the effort undertaken by the hiring manager, HR and participating staff. Much time is invested from studying the department’s need and formulating the requirements, to advertising, recruiting and interviewing. Once you find the right candidate, you are almost there. But it’s not over yet.
Despite the high unemployment rate, it is not a slam dunk. Many good candidates are receiving multiple offers, and many applicants are still employed and need to be certain that your company is the right move for them at this time. You need to sell the company and the opportunity. You need to close the candidate. (more…)
September 24, 2010
Employee ‘fit’ gives edge in recovery
Talent management critical in helping firms succeed
By Shannon Klie
Excerpt:
As the economy improves and organizations move from survival mode to growth mode, it’s critical for organizations to hire people who fit with the organization’s values and culture, not just the job, according to Sean Slater, vice-president of employer services firm vpi.
When there is people-organization fit, employees willingly embrace and commit to the company’s strategic plan and this gives an organization a competitive advantage over organizations that don’t have that same fit, said Slater, who is based in Mississauga, Ont.
“The alignment between the people that work for the organization and their objectives and their values with the values, culture and objectives of the organization is key to being able to bring life to the strategy. Bringing life to the strategy is what ultimately helps businesses be successful,” (more…)
|
|
