How to Hire More Effectively

How can you get the very best team members?

A critical task for any leader is selecting good team members. What are some hiring best practices?

· Understand the position. Do a deep analysis of the position you are hiring for, including a review of the job description. If it is out-of-date, revise it accordingly. Develop a detailed job specification, which lists the qualities you want in the ideal person for the job. What knowledge, skills, and characteristics did past employees have that led them to be successful in the job? What was lacking? Reviewing past performance reviews might help.

· Put time and energy into recruitment. Make sure that you are attracting a large pool of qualified applicants, both from outside of the organization and within. Employee referrals usually lead to good candidates. Make sure to cast a wide net that yields a large and diverse pool of applicants. Identify diverse candidates who bring in background and skills to widen the perspectives in your workforce.

· Use objective and valid screening methods. Make sure that all screening methods are job-related and help you to assess the knowledge and skills that are required for the job. Consider using a variety of methods, including valid selection tests to measure specific skills, job simulations (if possible), situational interviews (putting the applicant into a job-related situation where there is a right answer), and effective interviewing (more on this tomorrow!).

· Evaluate your hiring success and practices. Make sure to evaluate the success of your hiring by determining whether hires were or were not successful. This should be built into your performance appraisal system. Review and revise if necessary.

For Development: Good hiring is a “science” more than an art. Be objective throughout the process. Understand that this is a crucial part of a leadership position and evaluate yourself on your ability to hire the right people.