One of the biggest mistakes we see companies make is when we ‘lose’ a candidate due to a slow decision-making process. Most of us have been on the candidate side and know what it’s like to impatiently wait for a response from a potential employer. Waiting too long to make an offer will reduce the chances of hiring considerably. So this is the deal:
Hire with purpose
Hiring is like any other business. The management needs to have a clear understanding of role’s expectations, with an approved strategy and debriefing process. The best candidates will be getting multiple approaches, just because they are good. So, to keep their attention, be clear with your communications, transparent with your feedback and next steps, keep to the schedule, and keep the interest level high.
Good people follow good people
Good hiring will affect your business more than any other business relationships and hence should be given priority. It is key to understand what is required to avoid excessive interview rounds or stringing along candidates for weeks to make a decision. Good people will follow good people, and you will always have a pipeline of potential candidates. Good networkers know who the good employers are.
Hire with respect
Once a candidate has made up her/his mind to leave, they will be open to all kinds of opportunities. They will interview with several employers, allowing them an exciting glimpse of what potentially is out there before narrowing it down. The company that expresses a firm interest and moves quickly, will often succeed. Make the process enjoyable for them and be respectful of their time and career. Unorganized, slow decision making will be a negative message to any potential candidate.
We strive to always present you in the best light to candidates and we will try our best to keep candidates engaged throughout the process. We enjoy getting candidates excited about change and challenge, selling the opportunity and then the potential offer. But we can only keep them warm for so long before they naturally lose interest or start to question why things are taking so long to move forward.
At the end of the day, time is our most valuable asset, and time is money. Hiring the right consultant will, if your process is rigorous, will shorten time-to-hire and improve your bottom line too.
