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A Quick Message for Hiring Managers During the Interview Process

Photo of hiring managers stressed during interview processIf you are a hiring manager, you will likely feel some stress during the interview process. Most of the books and articles about hiring are aimed at the job seekers, and the job seeker’s challenge is considered one of the most stressful life experiences. But our focus here is the other side – you, the hiring manager.

Hiring the right fit for your team

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Virtual World for Hiring Managers & Recruiters

female waving a recruiter on laptop during virtual interviewMuch of the world took a right turn in March of 2020 and became virtual. That included learning a new skill for hiring managers and recruiters.  A poll conducted by Gartner in April of 2020 showed that 86% of interviews for hiring were conducted remotely.

Interviews via ZOOM

Learning to conduct interviews via ZOOM or some other virtual platform takes some skill to keep the conversation going in addition to asking relevant questions. Some managers have commented that they miss the information that came from in-person meetings.  It takes some thought and preparation to make the interview process a good experience for everyone. If possible send a schedule to the candidate and the interviewers who will be participating in the interview process. Allow breaks for the candidate in between interviewers. A big consideration. If you engage in a panel interview make sure that the questions are prepared ahead of time and are assigned to individuals. It’s a big distraction for the candidate to have interviewers overtalking each other.  It can be confusing and does not give the candidate the best opportunity to showcase their qualifications and strengths. Read more

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Culture Fit or Misfit

job candidate shaking hand of interviewerCandidates are cautioned to carefully probe into a company’s culture to ensure that both they and the organization are a fit. There are many horror stories told by candidates who by-passed signals that they culture was not a fit for them and that led to either leaving the job within months or getting fired because they didn’t fit in.

It’s a hot job market

It’s a hot job market so it’s tempting as a hiring manager to rush the let the important details slip. One of those details is the deep dive into making sure that the candidate and the organization are compatible. Be cautious. There’s a cost of going too fast – you’ve heard the saying, “Go slow to go fast”. It certainly applies here. Read more

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Online Recruiting is Here!

computer screen saying we're hiringIn-person recruiting appears to be a thing of the past, being largely replaced with online recruiting events and strategies. For hiring organizations, this is a challenge that many were not prepared for. Like the WFH (Work from Home) evolution which has both upsides and downsides, the virtual recruitment environment has its good sides, and not-so-good sides, too.

On-line applications and pre-screening are allowing more candidates to apply for job openings and are deepening the available candidate pool. They’re also saving time for Human Resources, hiring managers and candidates, opening possibilities that were not practical just months ago. Read more

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5 Ways A Vision Board Helps You Realize Your Dreams

photo of an eye looking at 2021. Do you set goals for yourself or your business? If not, how do you know you’re making progress? When was the last time you allowed yourself to daydream about the type of life you want? And then there’s that ever-popular question: What is your WHY? Creating a Vision Board has become popular in recent years. Especially as the New Year approaches and people think about the past year and the New Year’s resolutions they mean to keep.

A Vision Board (or Vision Map) is simply a tool that helps you visualize your dreams and goals.

How so, you ask? Let’s explore the ways… Read more

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2021 …Get Ready For It!

hour glass with 2020 going into 2021We’re sliding over the finish line of what some describe as a crazy year. And with the ending of one year and the beginning of a new one, we begin to think about planning. Or at least there is plenty of fuss in articles, blogs, podcasts, etc. about that “P” word and needing to plan for the coming year.

The calendar’s flip to the next page bragging it’s now 2021 won’t magically make everything rosy and right! It’s up to us to define our game plan and prepare to achieve success.

One useful practice is reviewing what we learned over the past year, and certainly there was a lot! There is heaps going on for everyone, both personally and professionally. The same experience will be a celebration for some and a heart-wrenching disappointment for others. Working to get ahead or even to keep heads above water is taking more effort and energy. Read more

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Hiring Managers – No Ghosting!

Ghosting Job Applicants. Photo of potential candidatesRecently the topic of ghosting job candidates has appeared in several articles and in social media about hiring managers and HR professionals resorting to this practice. Please, if this is a practice that your business or company engages in, stop it. It is not ok.

Someone – either the hiring manager or the HR recruiter – needs to get back to candidates who have been interviewed but not hired. If you have ever been in the position of looking for a job, recall what it felt like to be knocking on doors that would not open; or calling companies only to be put on forever hold or told the person you were calling was either not in or in a meeting. You left your contact information but never got a call back. Read more

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Overcommitment and Overwhelm – Learn to Build In Recovery

Young man suffering from overwhelmIn articles I’ve been reading over the past couple of weeks, the words overcommitment and overwhelm seem to appear more than usual. Of course, the pandemic is blamed for the “over”. But why this focus?

When the perception of work demands is heightened, overwhelm can easily take over. Some say that there is a tendency to see work as filling every moment of life when working from home. When in-person or in-office work allows for social interaction, this interrupts the concentration of work and is helpful in alleviating the nose-to-the-grindstone feeling. Read more

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How To Conduct A Resume Review

Resume ReviewReviewing resumes is an important skill for hiring managers. The process begins way before you have a copy of a candidate’s resume on your desk. It starts with a good job description and role profile. Both will provide a foundation for the resume review.

When you know the key skills, qualifications, traits and experience that are critical, and the education requirements you are looking for, then the task of reviewing resumes will be decidedly easier and far more effective.

One sometimes overlooked part of a resume is the cover letter. A well-written cover letter will address the important points you’ve outlined in the job description. When I served as a recruiter for a high-tech company, there were many times when the cover letter was the clincher for adding an applicant to the list of candidates to be interviewed. Read more

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Hiring Manager’s Guide: Preparing the Interview Team

Preparation Takes Time, But It Pays Off

Resume sitting on Hiring Manager's DeskOne of my observations when working with hiring managers was the tendency to wing it. The “it” was the interview process. But preparation is so important. Hiring managers expect candidates to have done their homework before coming to an interview, and it makes just as much sense for hiring managers to prepare.

To be sure, preparation takes time, but it pays off. You’ll gauge the candidate’s qualifications and skills more effectively if you are prepared, and the candidate will have a better experience too.

Here are some tips to prepare ahead of time for an interview. Read more