Behavioural Interviews

Recruitment vs. Reality

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Wooden sign- Happily Ever After
Source: melis/Shutterstock

As a student in the Human Resources field, you have probably heard the analogy that the recruitment process is very similar to the rituals of courtship.  There is the initial interest; then the attraction; then the getting to know each other through some dating; and then, if all goes well, a long term commitment is formed by partners for life.

Recruitment follows a similar pattern.  There is the initial interest and attraction to a position with a particular company; then there are at least a few interviews to get to know what the mutual expectations are; and then, if all goes well, a long-term commitment is formed by the contract of employment between two partners.

In both processes, we may see or hear some things that we do not particularly like, but in the haze of mutual courtship, we may choose to ignore these things or hope that they might be minor details that will not get in the way of long-term commitment and mutual success.

Then, reality sets in.

In most cases, partnerships work through the annoyances together.  If, however, the things that we chose to ignore during the courtship and/or recruitment process become glaringly evident and turn into unsurmountable obstacles, the relationship will come to an unfortunate end.

As HR professionals, we can avoid the inevitable break-up of the employment relationship by ensuring that the recruitment process is focused on reality for both parties, before any commitments are made.

Anna-Lucia Mackay outlines the need for multi-step recruitment processes that are focused on facts and reality-checking.

Click Here to Read the Article.

The author provides us with a detailed end-to-end approach for successful recruitment, to help HR professionals and candidates ensure mutual compatibility before contracts are signed and the path to the future is set for everyone.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Identify three key indicators that behavioural interviews provide to the employer in a recruitment process.
  2. What types of questions should be asked of a candidate’s references to ensure fact-checking?
  3. How will you know you are getting the answers you need from a candidate’s references?
  4. What are three potential warning signs during a recruitment process that the HR professional should not ignore?

The Scrapper or the Silver Spoon?

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As Human Resources professionals, we are taught (and we teach others) to make sure that everything we do is in compliance with rules and regulations.  This is especially true in the areas of Recruitment and Selection.  We work hard at making sure that there are no appearances of bias in potential candidate considerations.  We apply the consistency lens throughout our human resources processes with vigorous tenacity so that we can proceed with confidence in making the best hiring decisions.

Sometimes, however, these approaches cloud the lens and we miss seeing who the best candidate really is.

Regina Hartley, a director of human resources with UPS Information Systems, provides a refreshing approach to seeking, looking at and finding the best candidate in her recent TED talk.

Click here to watch the TED talk

Ms. Hartley definitely provides inspiration to the rest of us – both as Human Resources Professionals and as potential candidates looking for future success in our own careers.

We all have elements of the ‘scrapper’ somewhere in our employment histories.  By looking for and celebrating the success of the scrapper, we open the doors to a host of dynamic and talented individuals who might be missed along the way.

Cheers to the scrappers!

Discussion Questions:

  1. If you had to make a decision to interview the ‘scrapper’ or the ‘silver spoon’ candidate, which one would you pick? Why?
  2. Identify one element from this video clip that you disagree with and explain why.
  3. Which candidate profile do you think others see you as? Are you perceived as a scrapper or silver spoon?
  4. Ms. Hartley refers to ‘Post Traumatic Growth’. What is this and how does it have a positive impact on an individual’s career success?

 

How to Find and Hire Great Employees

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Floating in the Sea of Recruitment- The 7 C’s:

Allan Hill, in his article in Forbes Magazine, states:

“Over the course of my career, I’ve hired hundreds of people. Some were exceptional employees who were major contributors to our success. Others didn’t work out. In most cases, when an employee left or was terminated, I was the problem. Those dismissed were good people. I just did not know how to properly hire new employees.”

This is a very enlightened statement. How many HR practitioners would take this position of personal accountability?

It’s easy to find blame with someone or something else in any hiring process. HR Practitioners can always blame the hiring system, the candidate, or the external available pool of candidates. Our challenge is to take accountability for the processes that we create, monitor, and implement.

Allan Hill’s article can help you by using the s 7 C’s of hiring.

Click here to read the article.

Take a few moments to review the article and the 7 C’s. As you think about recruitment; what process you would use to evaluate the 7Cs: resume screening, testing, interview, role play, case studies, and environmental scans?

 

Hiring Competency

How will I evaluate or measure?
1 Competent
2 Capable
3 Compatible
4 Commitment
5 Character
6 Culture
7 Compensation

 

 

In order to make the recruitment process valid, reliable, and ultimately successful it takes insight, processes, and rigour on the part of the HR Practitioner. Is it time for you to raise your professional game?

 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Pick 3 of the 7C’s of hiring, how would you suggest these get incorporated into the recruitment process?
  2. How can building a comprehensive recruitment and selection process help to bring accountability to hiring new employees?

 

The Candidate

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Sometimes, the interview process can be deadly dull for everyone involved. Heineken, the Dutch brewing company, is noted for its unique and creative media campaigns when it comes to advertising their beer related products. They’ve taken the extra step and have applied that creativity to their hiring campaigns and documented it in this video clip “The Candidate”.

Source: wwwyoumarkit. The above content constitutes a link to the source website.  Please click on the play icon to stream the video.

It’s fun; it’s inspiring; it’s heart-warming. But is it effective? How do you know?

All too often HR practitioners get lost in making sure the ‘right’ questions get asked and/ or the ‘correct’ tests are administered to ensure that the ‘right’ candidate gets hired based on standard Knowledge, Skills and Abilities requirements. Does the Heineken approach allow for an opportunity to get that elusive ‘fit’ requirement between the candidate and the company? Does this process make the decision to hire the right person easier at the end? Are there other benefits to this approach?

If nothing else, this clever recruitment strategy provides a great promotional opportunity for Heineken to elevate brand recognition and to ensure vast international interest for future recruitment strategies. It also challenges other employers to step up their game when it comes to interactive recruitment processes in order to ensure that the best candidate gets the job.

Let’s recognize that Heineken, as a vast global organization, has the money and resources to put this recruitment campaign into place. Most employers would not have access to do any of this kind of recruitment on such a huge scale. Having said that, all employers, with the guidance and support of an effective Human Resources team, want the same result – to recruit, select and hire the best person for the job.

Discussion Question:

  • How will you as the HR practitioner make sure that the best hiring fit is ensured no matter how big or small your organization may be?