The quest to hire exceptional individuals can be akin to stepping into scenes from Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street. It can be a thrilling yet chilling endeavor, where the stakes are high. And no one wants to introduce any “Jasons” or “Freddys” that could potentially trigger a mass exodus of existing employees. Thankfully, you don’t need to hide in the dark, afraid of who will walk through the door; you just need the right lights to shine and uncover candidates’ innate behaviors, soft skills, and past adventures. Like hidden treasures waiting to be discovered, they can reveal a candidate’s uniqueness, strengths, and challenges.
By delving deep into the realms of personality and implementing a formal hiring process, you can embark on a journey of determining a candidate’s fit to the position. This exploration allows you to make more informed decisions, ensuring the individual is placed in a role that matches their inherent talents. Like adept sorcerers, perceptive leaders can harness the magic of multiple data points when adding a new team member. Yet, the first step lies in encouraging candidates to apply.
Out of the Shadows
Your job ad serves as a portal, offering a glimpse into the possibilities that await prospective candidates. It should wield language that paints a vivid picture of your amazing benefits (beyond health insurance and PTO), company culture, and growth opportunities. Also, be transparent about your expectations, whether it’s wickedly long hours or hair-raising travel requirements. Your eye-catching ad will be a beacon, and you will see candidates emerge from the shadows who will align with your organization’s ethos and fill your inbox with resumes.
Interview Insight
Akin to incantations, behavioral interviews can reveal not only the truthfulness of a candidate’s resume but also how they have handled situations in the past. By delving into specific examples and asking probing questions, behavioral interviews draw upon the candidate’s experiences, actions, and outcomes, unraveling the essence of their skills and capabilities. These interviews go beyond surface-level responses, diving deep into the candidate’s motivations, behaviors, and reactions. Through the exploration of real-life scenarios, you gain a clearer understanding of how the candidate may navigate similar situations in the future. Just like a spell can unveil hidden truths, behavioral interviews unearth valuable insights about a candidate’s character, values, and their ability to thrive.
Persona Illumination
The innate tendencies of a candidate’s personality may not be fully revealed during interviews, but adding a personality assessment provides another data point to use. The Omnia Assessment is a tool that elevates your hiring process and is forged from the fires of validation. Using a personality assessment before hiring provides unparalleled insight, much like the Mirror of Erised from the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Just as the mirror reveals the deepest desires and truest selves of those who look into it, a personality assessment unveils candidates’ hidden potential, aspirations, and authentic personalities. It enhances your ability to identify top talent, build cohesive teams, and foster a thriving workplace culture.
The Power Within
While technical competencies are essential, it is the ethereal presence of soft skills that shape the success of individuals. Communication, adaptability, and teamwork bring a supernatural energy that transcends mere qualifications. Soft skills are like magical ingredients that weave a spell, creating a harmonious work environment and propelling your organization towards success. When they are prioritized during the hiring process, you attract candidates who possess these abilities. As a result, teams are equipped with individuals who can effectively tackle complex challenges with grace and collaborate seamlessly. This infusion of soft skills ensures a workforce that is not only technically proficient but also capable of hitting your KPIs. But to get there you need to have a formalized hiring method.
A Frighteningly Good 5-Step Hiring Method
Step 1: Needs and Wants
Gather your colleagues and envision the ideal person you want to join the team. Define competencies, experience, and personality traits that will ignite the flames of success. Consult with your Omnia customer success manager to build a scoring model that matches the essence of your needs.
Step 2: Source and Attract
Cast your net wide, beyond mere job boards and into the spectral spaces of social media and professional networks. Let the magic of your company’s culture and values shine through, beckoning the most enchanting souls.
Step 3: Screen and Assess
When evaluating resumes, conducting phone screenings, and utilizing assessments, you can gain valuable insights into your candidates’ suitability. This comprehensive screening process ensures that you identify the most promising candidate who meets your needs and preferences.
Step 4: Decisions and Offers
Gather around the cauldron of hiring decisions. Peer into the depths of Omnia’s assessment results, listen to the echoes of interview feedback, and seek the wisdom of candidate references. Extend an offer to the candidate who has the most “yes” boxes checked and possesses the greatest potential for growth.
Step 5: Onboard and Nurture
Welcome the chosen one into your midst. Utilize the personality data you have gathered to help your employee acclimate seamlessly into their new environment. Provide ongoing support, offer constructive feedback, and create opportunities for their professional development. Nurture their growth and watch as they transform into your most fierce ally.
The streetlights are coming on, so it’s time to wrap it up. Yes, finding the right candidate can be treacherous, resembling a suspenseful Halloween movie. However, amidst the uncertainties, there are powerful tools and methods that can transform fear into a sense of control and excitement. Starting with your job ad to attract, your interview to verify, your assessment to gain insight, and your hiring method to stay on track, you are well-equipped to handle anything that comes your way.
So, step into the adventure armed with your tools, curiosity, and discerning eye to uncover the true potential of candidates and guide them from the dark woods into the light of your organization.