Hiring Smarts: Finding The Perfect Employee

Finding the perfect candidate for each job opening is every manager’s goal, but doing so is no easy task. When asked to name the most difficult aspect of the hiring process, more than one-third (34%) of executives surveyed cited reviewing resumes, according to a survey developed by The Creative Group. Another 27% said asking the right interview questions is their greatest challenge.
The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service, offers the following tips for developing a strategic hiring process:
Use the right criteria. Create a set of requirements that can be used to evaluate applicants. It should outline the technical aptitudes, educational requirements and soft skills needed for success in each position.
Make the system uniform. Each resume should be reviewed against the same standards.
Begin at the end when reviewing resumes. Candidates tend to place the least flattering information toward the bottom of their application materials, so starting there may be useful.
Develop questions in advance. Create a core list of interview questions to be asked of all applicants for a given position.
Don’t skip steps. When you’re short-staffed, it can be tempting to rush through the hiring process. If workloads are unmanageable, consider bringing in freelance or project professionals until you have identified a final candidate.