How to Find and Attract Great Employees

Are you tired of going through round after round of interviews only to end up with an employee that isn’t qualified and spends all day surfing the internet rather than attending to their duties?  In case you didn’t know, there is actually a science to hiring, and if you’ve had a rough time of it, you likely aren’t employing the tactics necessary to find and attract the right people.  However, there are a number of tips and tricks that can help you to spot the duds as well as the diamonds in the rough (as well as get more of the latter in the door in the first place).  Here are just a few ways to ensure that when you go to hire, you’ll have a pool of qualified and motivated candidates, and that you’ll be able to recognize them when you see them.

The first thing you must do is create a help-wanted ad that is clear and concise.  Specify the qualifications necessary so as to avoid getting a lot of applicants who aren’t anywhere near qualified.  And offer competitive wages and benefits to ensure that you attract people who are experienced.  Next, think about where you’re advertising on job search sites and the like.  Craig’s List is great if you want every low-rent Johnny in the neighborhood banging on your door.  But you’d better enjoy sifting through résumés, because you’re going to field thousands.  Instead, spring for advertising on a paid site that is industry specific.  Often, the people who search these sites are also paying for the service, so you can be sure they’re serious about finding a job in your field and they likely have the education and experience to apply for the position your offering.

Now that you have a large group of qualified individuals to entertain for potential employment, it’s time to sift through them in the interview process.  When you meet with candidates, there are a couple of things you should look for right off the bat; call them telltale markers.  The first is appropriate office attire.  If they’re dressed in anything less than business-casual, or their clothing seems too revealing or informal, it’s a fair bet they’re not taking themselves or the job seriously.  Of course, it could just be that they haven’t yet got the money for a proper wardrobe, so make a point of asking in the interview if you find them otherwise suitable.

You should also keep an eye out for certain body language during the interview, some of which can be very revealing.  When introductions are made, the applicant should shake your hand, look you in the face, and smile.  They should appear relaxed but excited to be there.  Someone who fails to smile or look at you throughout the interview may pose a problem since they obviously lack interpersonal skills.  You probably want a team player, at the very least, and you certainly don’t want to hire someone who is going to make clients uncomfortable or cause concern about the capability of your business.  And avoid anyone who looks away or appears unwilling to answer questions.  This is a sure sign that they’re hiding something, and you definitely don’t want any shenanigans or shady dealings going on within your walls.

Finally, consider using suitability and aptitude tests to determine whether or not a candidate is a good fit for your company and the job you’re offering.  These tests can be found at a number of websites or you can purchase the software to administer them yourself.  By exercising care with where you place your ads, paying attention to the looks and behavior of applicants, and requiring tests to determine suitability, you’re going to have a much better chance of finding the right candidates and successfully filling your position.