When a hiring manager has multiple qualified candidates to choose from, how can they narrow down the field in order to choose the very best applicant that has the highest chance of success?
Human behaviorists tell us that there are 3 very specific indicators, that if probed for, should help us determine which candidate will be the best choice for a specific opportunity.
1) ABILITY
How much experience do they have actually doing what you need them to do , and how successful were they? We also call these HARD SKILLS. These are tangible skill sets that should be appraised to determine how proficient they are in the required duties of their prospective new role.
2) ASPIRATION
Another way to evaluate this is to try to get a feel for how PASSIONATE the candidate is for this particular role. Are they simply looking for a job, or do they ASPIRE to do this kind of work? With all else being equal, nothing can beat ENTHUSIASM for a role. If a candidate shows that they have a yearning for this opportunity, with a ‘ fire in the belly’ to dive in, that should be given substantial weight .
3) ENGAGEMENT
How committed a candidate is for this role will primarily be determined by the previous questions. If this is a dream job for them, you can guess that they will be diving in with both feet, and doing everything in their power to stay. However if this is simply a stop-gap paycheck, while they pursue their true passion, you can bet they will be gone when a better paycheck becomes available.
In order to get the information you need to make an informed decision, it is critical to give some serious thought to the questions that you will be asking your prospective candidates during the interview process. By asking the right questions, and then LISTENING to the responses, it should become clear which candidates exhibit the 3 key factors listed above.
So what should you do if you still have a strong pool of candidates, that have tested high in some areas and lower in others?
Since 1999 International Search Consultants has been providing exceptional candidates to our clients interview table. We have teams that focus exclusively on Financial Services, Human Resources, SALES, and Construction and Real Estate Development. Please feel free to CONTACT US whenever you would like to see a strong pool of candidates to choose from, for your next hiring need.