How To Take The Trick Or Treat Out Of The Hiring Process

Far too often the hiring process is similar to Halloween; it leaves both the employer and the employee feeling tricked instead of treated. Employers are tricked by employees in interviews who falsely advertise themselves, and vice versa.

Below are suggestions for companies and prospective employees, based on my HR experiences, observations, and psychology insights, that can make the hiring process, and outcomes, more of a treat.

1. Move beyond the resume - have a conversation

Once you evaluate a candidate's qualifications, and determine that they are worth pursuing, invite them in for a conversation - not an interview. You will know that this has occurred when you can answer the following questions: What motivates this candidate? What are their weakness and superpowers? What personal qualities do they possess that fit or can help improve company culture? Are their goals, values and work/life vision in alignment with the mission and culture of the company? What role can they fill or play? The important take-away: Conversations focus on the whole person you will be working with; interviews only focus on the candidate trying to get the job.

2. Articulate role and expectations 

Typically, most jobs come with written job descriptions. Most working people feel that they do more than what their job description entails. This creates an imbalance - if their role is not congruent with their superpowers or professional goals. Expectations (what is expected of one in their role) tends to trump job duties and expectations when it comes to respect and advancement opportunities.

3. Overhaul your on-boarding process

During the first three months reality sets in for new hires: the job is or is not the job they thought it would be. What creates the discrepancy is often the on-boarding process, at which time they discover the job they "interviewed" for, is not the job they ended-up with.

That's when employees feel tricked.

Proper on-boarding ensures that everyone in the company is not only aware of who is joining "the team," knows that they will be doing, but also does their part in welcoming them.

That's when employees feel treated.

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