In today’s job market, it can be tough to find qualified people. How do you make sure you get the best light industrial talent? Follow these five steps.
Write a comprehensive job description for the position
You must specify the skills and qualifications needed. Think of the job description as a two-way street. For the applicant, it makes the qualifications clear, so unqualified people will self-screen themselves out. For the employer, a clear job description ensures you’ll receive applicants from qualified people, so the process isn’t time-consuming in having to weed out resumes.
A detailed job description can also be used to align all other aspects of the hiring process. You will ask interview questions based on the skills and qualifications listed in the job description.
Advertise for qualifications, not type of person
A job description should never specify a gender, age, religion, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
If you think you need a young person to keep up with newer technologies on the shop floor, write the job description so that it reflects experience with newer technologies – not the age of the applicant.
Develop interview questions that will give you meaningful information
Don’t wing it during the interview! To find the best employees, you must ask interview questions that will establish their qualifications and achievements. Take time before the interview to develop the questions you will ask.
Perhaps you want to know the dependability of the employee. You might ask “tell me about a time when people depended upon you.” Open-ended questions like this can’t be answered with “yes” or “no.” You’ll get a sense of not only how dependable they are, but how they think about dependability.
Ask the same questions of all interviewees
When you’re interviewing several people, ask the same questions of all of them. If you don’t, you can’t effectively compare them with each other.
Determine criteria for “best”
Once you have the questions, determine your criteria for “best.” Are you looking most for technical skill, such as ability to operate or fix the equipment? For dependability and punctuality? For good team players?
Ask questions that elicit information on all these qualities, and then figure out what the best responses would be.
Offer competitive salaries and benefits
All the job descriptions and good interview practices in the world won’t get you the best people if you don’t have competitive salaries and benefits. You need to offer at least what your geographic competitors offer to get the best people – and more will be more likely to get you the absolute best.
How a Staffing Firm Can Help Your Business
Staffing firms can provide valuable assistance to businesses in reviewing hiring plans, creating job descriptions and interview questions, and reviewing benefit plans and salaries. We’re happy to help. Contact us today.