Hiring new applicants is always a long process. Finding the right people to fit the job, who share your company values, and really want to work in your company can be a real challenge. When you do, it is an absolute dream! But, there are a few things you should do in order to ensure you are hiring the right candidate for the job. Whether you are new to the hiring game or have a bit of experience in this field, we’ve compiled a short checklist you should follow to ensure you get the right person for the job.
Conduct Interviews
Once you have noticed the need for a new position and advertised it, you need to shortlist and interview candidates. It is recommended that whoever will be working directly with this potential new employee be part of the interview, along with a senior manager or company owner, depending on your size and structure. This way people at various levels within the company will get a chance to meet the candidate and assess their skills and personality, finding out whether they think they’d be suited to the team.
Background Checks
OK, so you’ve found a person you think would be a potentially great fit? Time to run some standard background checks to make sure everything about them is accurate, true, and legal. A basic DBS check is applied for by the client or employees themselves, to give them a simple clearance for various jobs. However, a standard background check can be applied for as an employer, or potential one. With one of these checks, you’ll be able to see a history of any cautions, convictions, or reprimands on a person’s record. These could prove essential to your choice, especially if your business is of a sensitive or high-stakes nature.
Get References
If you’re happy with their DBS check, you can start to check in with their previous employers. It is common practice for people to give a reference for their most recent employer but you may also ask for a personal / character reference from a friend or person from a particular part of society. These references give you further ability to judge the person’s character and hear how they conduct themselves in the outside world. At this point, you may want to check out their social media accounts, too, just to see a little more about what they are like in private.
Ask For Certifications
Finally, depending on the job, you may have required certain degrees, certifications, or other qualifications to be a necessary part of any application. If this is the case, you should probably ask for proof that these certifications have been achieved. Whether the applicant has a physical copy of their results or if they need to refer you to their place of study for confirmation, you should seek to confirm they have achieved all the grades they say they have.
These four simple steps will help you ensure you have employed someone who is perfect for your job post, trustworthy, and a future asset to your company. Of course, sometimes bad eggs slip through the net, but we hope by following these steps to minimize the potential of that happening.