Creating An Excellent Hiring Process

Before you invite candidates to begin the interview process, review the hiring process itself. Creating an excellent experience best ensures that your finalists enthusiastically accept your offer and, if asked, share positive reviews about your institution and team with their networks. Additionally, online platforms like Glassdoor have made it a priority to get the hiring experience right if you want future candidate pools to engage with your college. Here are a few do’s and don'ts to help you in this review process.

DO

CREATE STEPS
Have a defined and articulated set of hiring steps for your colleagues, from the initial phone screen to the final employee contract negotiation.

EXECUTE TIMELINE
Share a calendar with your team of when each milestone needs to be achieved -- ensuring the experience is timely for candidates.

FEATURE COMMUNITY
Provide opportunities for the candidate to get to know the school, culture and team.

SHARE DIVERSITY DATA
Be ready to share your school's diversity statistics and initiatives to promote greater diversity within your community.

MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION
Communicate regularly with candidates even if it is to let them know that they will not be moving forward in the process.

FEEDBACK
Be open to getting and giving feedback.

DON'T

CHANGE THE JOB DESCRIPTION
Changing the job description in the middle or late into the process is one of the most complained about occurrences in the hiring process. Take your time creating the job description to make sure it accurately reflects the opening.

GO MISSING
Routinely check-in with your candidates about the process and experience. If there is a delay, let them know that too.

FEAR THE DATA
If the school's diversity needs improving, employee turnover is high, enrollment is down or other, then be honest and focus on what your college or university is doing to address and correct the issue and emphasize the strategic efforts and goals your institution is striving to achieve.

BE TOO COLD OR TOO HOT
While candidates need to spend time getting to know your institution, they do have jobs and responsibilities they also must attend to. Find a balance between being welcoming and respecting their time.

A smooth and positive hiring process is nearly as important as the job being offered to recruit top-tier candidates. Take a moment to ensure your procedures will make your prospective employees feel confident and comfortable about their decision to apply and, hopefully, accept your offer of employment.