How a Consultant Helped My Business

Any business is only as good as its members of staff. It can have the best product or service in the world or offer the most innovative solution to any problem, but if its employees are not top-notch, then it is unlikely to do especially well. It can be difficult to find good staff, admittedly, but it is crucial to ensure that best practices are followed during any recruitment process. How can you be sure that your policies are as good as possible when you need to recruit staff?

Who Are You Looking For?

Firstly, you need to be absolutely sure about the type of person you want to take on. Make sure that every element of your company's operation is identified, including the type of product or service offered, the client avatar and the employee programs and schedules. This will help you to identify the type of person who would be "perfect" as a staff member.

Unusual Questions

Once you have this type of "big picture" analysis, make sure that you ask pertinent questions of all prospects. You want to see how they would fit in within your organisation, but don't just ask the standard questions based on their knowledge, education or ability. Come up with some questions that will make them think outside of the box so you can see exactly who they are.

Gut Feelings

While it's not necessarily sensible to base your recruiting decisions on a gut feeling, it is a good idea to make a note of your first impressions whenever you meet a candidate initially. This may be useful information when it comes to deciding between two particular people for one available slot.

Social Media

These days, everyone has a social media presence, and it can often give you a good idea about what kind of person they are. It will help you to assess their communication skills and how they interact with other people, to see whether they have a good sense of humour and what they're "in to" when they are not in work.

Bigger Picture

An interview process does not begin and end when somebody sits down at a desk across from an interviewer. Every opportunity should be taken to assess an individual from the moment that they arrive at the facility to the moment when they leave. This can give a valuable insight into how they interact with other people outside of the interview "cauldron."

Recruiting Agencies

The ability to interview well is a significant skill and one that should not be underestimated. It's often a good idea to get in touch with recruitment agencies who specialise in this area so that only the best employees make it through to your organisation.