Save the waffles for breakfast, not the office! Mmm… now I want a waffle.
…Back to hiring!
If you have a smooth, well-designed hiring process (one that’s not covered in syrup and heavy cream), it should give you all of the information you need to make a decision on hiring. But every so often you’re still left with doubts, and in many cases time is not on your side.
What might be causing your doubt?
You might not have all the information you need to make a decision.
You might not know what makes someone successful at the role.
You might be under a lot of pressure, and afraid to make a mistake.
Let’s face it, there are a lot of reasons you might be waffling over whether or not to hire someone. How do you buy yourself time and gather more information to decide if this person is right for the role?
5 tips that will help you decide if you want to hire someone
1. Call them back for another interview.
If you’re unsure about a candidate, and you need more information, you’ll need to get it somehow. Don’t be afraid to break the mold of your hiring process to call them back for another interview. Additionally, you might want to meet with them outside of the office, or in a non-traditional setting. At Betts Recruiting we often host “happy hours” where hiring managers can get to know job seekers over drinks and meet in a less confrontational atmosphere.
2. Get help with a second opinion
Unless you’re at a startup with only a few employees, you probably have a few people involved in the hiring process. Ask them what they think. Also, don’t be afraid to talk to people outside of your hiring process or company, such as a colleague or mentor. Sometimes a second voice from someone you trust can be enough to give you the confidence you need to say yes, or no.
3. Give them an assignment
Just because someone can talk the talk, doesn’t mean they can walk the walk… When in an interview, it’s nearly impossible to judge things like writing skills, or how they will perform on a task in the office. Giving the candidate an assignment can give you a good idea of what level of work you can expect if they are hired.
4. Have them present a business plan
With sales roles in particular, seeing how someone performs in a public speaking forum can be very revealing. While you should be paying attention to the content the candidate is presenting, you’ll also want to assess their personality and how they would fit into your company.
5. Do you know what you’re looking for?
Before you go hunting, you should know what it is you’re hunting for. When deciding on what you’re looking for in a candidate you should be able to answer these three questions:
- What are the essential skills someone needs to perform at this job?
- How will you know if they’re a culture fit?
- What are you looking for in long term potential?
Hiring someone can be a tough decision. But when you’re prepared with the information you need to make a decision it gets a lot easier.
Are you looking to hire? Are you looking for new job? Are you looking for a waffle? (sorry, we can’t actually make you one) Click here to connect with a sales recruiter in Austin!
