December 19, 2011

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Next, post your polished job description on “niche job boards.” Meaning, find popular job boards (websites) for the industry with which you would like to hire from.  A few personal favorites are marketingjobs.com, salesgravy.com and indeed.comt.

Luckily for you, the job market favors the employer right now.  Expect resumes to flow in. To reduce the chaos of being inundated with resumes, set up a separate email address specifically for applicants to email their cover letter & resume (plus any additional requirements you may request in the job description).  Set aside time every week to devote to resume review.  If you review resumes one at a time as they come in, it’s easy to become overloaded and overwhelmed.

Within 3-5 days following the ‘last day to apply’ deadline, make your selection and get ready to roll onto Step 4, the Interview.

4. The Interview

Choose no more than 5 top candidates to invite for interviews, more than that and you’ll encounter endless scheduling and interviewing.

Choose the interview location carefully.  Steer clear of overpopulated coffee shops.  You can’t guarantee seating, there is no confidentiality, it’s noisy and doesn’t work.  If you don’t have your own office space, check with your local library. Most have meeting and/or conference rooms that you can reserve at no cost which is a great option!

If you are flying solo in business, consider asking trusted advisors, peers and colleagues to join in the interview process.  Having a second or third opinion is often very helpful.

Recommended Questions

“What sparked your last professional high?”

Review the candidates motivation, culture fit, work style and team building skills.

“Tell me about two memorable projects, one success and one failure and what do you attribute to each?”

 Learn values, confidence level , self-awareness, personal motivators and professional development expectations.

“Based on what we’ve discussed about this opportunity, tell me the first 5 things you’d do in the job.”

 Assess strategic thinking, prioritization skills and execution style.

5. You’re Hired

Have you found the perfect candidate? If so, it’s time to seal the deal with the following steps:

Request and check 2-3 professional references; personal references aren’t worth your time.

Depending on your business, it may be appropriate to request a background check.  Many services exist online to support you in the process, including providing a candidate consent form.  You CANNOT run background or credit checks without consent!

Once you’ve settled on the candidate and performed your due diligence, compile your final offer. Make a verbal offer and follow it up immediately with a written offer (a document outlining the details on company letterhead).

Take a deep breath. It seems like a lot, but remember the first time may be daunting perhaps, but by the second and third time, you’ll be a pro!

Happy recruiting!

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