By Marc Gilker
How long does hiring take? The answer is nuanced and constantly changing, but it typically takes a couple of weeks to a few months. The actual time depends on a range of factors like your industry and the resources you dedicate to your search. Here are 3 tactics you can borrow from our professional recruiting team to hire more efficiently.
1. Create a persona for your ideal candidate
Candidates’ personalities and values are just as important as their experience. Identifying your ideal candidate will save you time when selecting who to interview. You can start with a pen and paper or by downloading our free Ideal Candidate Persona Worksheet.
Take a moment to jot down a few bullet points about what matters to them and what their aspirations are. What are their personal and professional goals? What excites them about joining your team? What barriers could get in their way when switching jobs? These are just a few ideas to get you started.
2. Don’t wait until the interview to ask important questions
Don’t be afraid to dive into deeper questions before the formal interview process. Candidates may leave important details off their resumes that they may not know are relevant to the job. You can save hours of time and effort by clarifying these details during the initial screening process.
Ask about proficiency in relevant software, specific skills and experience, and other things you’ve outlined in your ideal candidate persona. A quick phone call can ensure it’s worth your time and your candidate’s time to move forward with the next step of the interview process.
3. Partner with recruiters who know your industry
We polled our network on why they choose to partner with a professional search firm. The answer was unanimously (100%) “industry-specific recruiting.” Other options were “outsourcing initial screenings,” “access to new candidates,” and “keeping control of the hiring choice.”
Your team knows your company best, but you already have a lot on your plate. A recruiting firm that specializes in your industry can take some of the burden off your shoulders. Their expertise will ensure you receive high-quality candidates in a timely manner.
Optimize the process for best results
To recap, there is no set length for a hiring search, but there are ways to streamline the process. If you are looking for a partner who can level up your search, we would love to hear from you. Our Direct Hire and Executive Search recruiters can help you find your next great hire.