a woman candidate getting interviewed as part of the hiring process

Why It’s Important to Expedite the Hiring Process

Hiring the right person is essential. By streamlining the talent process and making it a top priority, you can save time and money while ensuring that the best candidates are brought on board. There are many ways to improve your hiring speed, but one of the most important factors is to ensure communication and decision making internally is facilitated in a timely manner.

The hiring process is one of the most important aspects of any business. It can be time-consuming and expensive, but it’s essential to ensuring that you have the best possible team in place.

There are several reasons why it’s important to speed up the hiring process. First, by bringing on a new employee, you’re investing in the future of your business. The sooner you onboard and get a new employee up-to-speed, the better. Second, the longer you wait to hire someone, the more likely it is that your top candidates will accept another offer. Finally, by streamlining your hiring process and making it a priority, you can save time and money.

Develop an employer brand and define the role and responsibilities clearly

An important hiring strategy relies on your employer brand as a first step. Your employer brand is what sets you apart from other companies and illustrates why candidates should consider applying. Ask: Do you support a diverse workforce? What do existing employees say about your organization? Why do they like working there?

Next, clearly define the role – and budget for the position you’re looking to fill. This may seem like a no-brainer, but many businesses make the mistake of being too vague about the position they’re trying to fill. Take the time to clearly define the role, responsibilities, and compensation. Create an ideal candidate persona, including analysis on current employees, prospective hires, and others who align with your ideal candidate.

Write a targeted job description and create an Application Form

Once you’ve defined the role, it’s time to write a targeted job description. This should include a detailed write up of the position, desired qualifications and experience, with measurable metrics and KPIs. Develop an Application Form with behavioral based questions, focusing on quantifiable outcomes of key projects candidates have achieved.

Leverage social media and ATS systems

Harness the hashtag. Use social media to advertise jobs either through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Glassdoor, YouTube, Google+, Instagram, Tik Tok, and Snapchat. Consider outreach to HR vendors, or crowdsourcing, where job seekers share potential job openings within their personal social networks.

Text candidates. Text messaging to candidates increases engagement by 10x. Not only will utilizing text speed up the recruitment process, but it will also increase the quality of engagement and overall experience for both applicants and prospective employer.

What Applicant Tracking System (ATS), do you use to manage candidate volume? ATS systems can automate many of the tasks associated with hiring, including posting job listings, tracking applicants, and scheduling interviews. Using an ATS can help you save a considerable amount of time during this process. Have you evaluated what system will best fit your needs?

Vetting and initial screening interviews

Once you’ve received a pool of qualified candidates, it’s time to start vetting applicants. Take the time to consider candidates who can step up into a role, or those that bring adjacent skills to the position. Hire for potential and character. Conduct initial screening interviews by phone or video conference. This will help you save time while still getting to know the candidate. Interview processes should be no longer than 3-4 weeks, or you risk losing top talent if the time is dragged out.

Debrief & decision making

Once you’ve interviewed all of the candidates, it’s time to debrief, assess, go to final interview stage, and make a decision. Many businesses drag their feet when it comes to hiring. The longer you wait to make a decision, the more likely it is that your top candidate will accept another offer. Instead, move quickly and make a decision as soon as possible.

What are you waiting for? Save time and money by streamlining your hiring process, while ensuring you’re investing top talent in your business’s future. Speed is essential; make the hiring process a priority today.

To learn more please reach out and connect with a consultant.