Taking the Guess Work Out Of Hiring – A Six Step Tool -
Recently in our recruiting and hiring work we have found ourselves utilizing a concept we developed a number of years ago for our clients. It is called ‘Aligned Values and Qualities’.
In our ongoing commitment to help you find and keep the right people we would like to share with you how this tool works.
Step One – Top candidates
You have made it through the screening process and initial interview stages.
The top three or four candidates have surfaced and you want them to move forward in your process.
Each candidate has visited the office and has met the full team.
Step Two – Develop your top 10 list
Consider the top 10 values and qualities you feel the ideal candidate will need to possess to work closely with JUST YOU and your expectations.
Write out these qualities, ranking them from 1-10 (1 being the most important) on a sheet of paper.
Place the list in a safe place and move to step 3.
Step Three – Involve your key team players
Identify every person on your team who will be working closely with the new person.
Have each team player write out their own top 10 values and qualities list, and instruct them to rank each quality the same way you did.
Remind them to reflect solely on themselves, not what they think is needed for the full team.
Step Four – Bring the lists together
Find an open wall in the office and have each keep player post their list for everyone to see, yours included.
As a team, stand back and observe everyone’s lists on the wall.
We have done this with as few as 3 people and as many as 20 with amazing results.
From everyone’s feedback you are to develop a single list with the synergized top 10 values and qualities.
You now have a company grouping that is ready for the next step.
Step Five – Bring the candidates back
Bring back each candidate for the next step of your interview process.
Provide a blank sheet of paper and ask each candidate to articulate what top 10 qualities or values they possess that would make them the best fit for the company.
In some cases you can take your own list and scramble the words and have the candidate re-rank each description on their own.
Once all candidates have completed the assignment, get your team back together and walk through the responses.
You will be amazed how the best candidate will surface to the top.
Note: Some typical qualities we have observed include and mixture of attitude and skill sets. Here are a few:
- honesty
- integrity
- leadership
- influence
- management
- organization
- work ethic
- communications
- attitude
- objective
- energy
- sociability
- team work
- people skills
- creative
- financial
- assertive
- independent
Step Six – Correlate with a solid profiling tool
Combine your effort with a robust on-line profiling or assessment tool.
We prefer Profiles International’s web assessments as it has proven to be the most accurate and includes job matching.
If you follow these 6 steps, you will always ensure you are hiring the right candidate for your company, for your team and for you.
The next time you are hiring, please give this formula a try and let us know how you make out. As always we are here to help you in any way we can. Good luck.
For more ideas about coaching, business strategy and communications, please visit us at www.thorntongroup.ca.
Neil Thornton is the President of the Thornton Group of Companies and Partner with Trigger Strategies. Neil can be reached at www.thorntongroup.ca, or www.triggerstrategies.ca.