Hiring has become more challenging due to talent shortages and growing competition. In many cases, the most qualified individuals are quickly hired, leaving behind a smaller pool of applicants from which to select. Given the stakes, it could be beneficial to revisit and streamline the hiring process. In order to make rapid hiring the norm to improve your talent acquisition, consider these strategies:
Automate Time-Consuming Components of Hiring Process
Using an applicant tracking system (ATS) to automate parts of the hiring process can save time. An efficient ATS allows you to keep tabs on where each potential hire stands in the hiring process, send out reminders for any necessary pre-employment testing, monitor and discuss test results, and manage your pipeline in one convenient location. If you’ve done your homework and established a thorough job analysis, an excellent ATS will help you quickly and easily narrow the field of applicants.
Make Use of a Range of Applicant Channels
If you’re only using one method to find new hires, you may be slowed down by a lack of applicants for open positions. The faster you can identify the right applicant, the more sourcing approaches you should use. Online job sites, like LinkedIn, and personal recommendations are among the most effective methods of finding new employees. However, that’s not all there is to choose from. In addition to advertising job opportunities on the company website, seeking employee referrals, and promoting from within can all speed up the process of filling vacancies.
Check References Early On
Checking references can take up to a week. It’s a good idea to start as soon as you have identified your shortlist of candidates. This will not only shorten the hiring process, but also allow you to get back to candidates quickly and help retain their interest in the position.
If you’re having trouble finding qualified candidates or making the best hiring decisions, look no further than the experts at the Business of HR to serve as your trusted advisors and recruiting support team.