What are some other vital parts of the hiring process?
For one, conduct an in-depth background check. Find out about a candidate’s work history, but also find out what that candidate is passionate about. In what areas did the candidate excel in the past? In which organizations were they most successful? Did they receive any achievements or recognition? Asking those types of questions will help you determine whether or not the candidate will properly fill the position and, eventually, become a future leader of your company.
Also, evaluate both job skills and personality through skills-based and job-knowledge questioning. Having the right skills and qualifications is important, but you also have to make sure that the candidate is the right fit for your culture. Does the candidate thrive under pressure? Does he or she work well with other team members? How large of a workload can the candidate handle? Understanding a candidate’s personality is vital.
Why is now the time to find new talent?
This is a seller’s market and a great time to attract talent and pay more reasonable compensation than a year ago. Search firms have been inundated with resumes over the last several months. Online employment sites have reported record entries of new executives currently available. Placing an ad in The Wall Street Journal will get an enormous response these days. You have to remain competitive in the marketplace.
Even though I have seen a decrease in compensation packages in the last year, I would encourage you to provide a competitive compensation package and benefits packages that will motivate long-term performance. A well-designed supplemental benefits plan can provide additional post-retirement income for selected executives. You can establish performance benchmarks that must be attained before these benefits are awarded. You may consider requiring continued employment for executives to reap these benefits.
Try some of these steps to ensure that top executive talent seeks out your company for employment.
M.J. Helms is the director of operations with The Ashton Group. Reach her at (706) 636-3343 or [email protected].
