Posted on January 23rd, 2019
Auditing your hiring practices can help ensure you are in compliance with local laws as well as open up the talent pool. Learn more about an HR audit checklist here.
Nearly half of the workers in the United States are in the process of looking for a better job. Finding the right talent is an essential part of making your business successful.
Whether you are hiring your first employee or you want to add more people to your extensive roster of talent, having the best hiring practices is a must.
Most business owners fail to realize that bad hiring practices can severely limit their ability to attract top talent. Failing to notice and change these hiring mistakes will lead to big problems in the long run.
With an HR audit checklist, you can look at your hiring practices objectively, which makes spotting problems much easier.
While this auditing process will take time, it is definitely worth the effort you and your team invest. By adding more modern elements to this process, you can get the right team in place with ease.
Here are some of the signs you may notice when it is time to change your current hiring practices.
Your Applicant Tracking System Is Outdated
One of the first opportunities you have to make an impression on a potential employee is during the application process.
A key component of any successful employee application strategy is state of the art applicant tracking software.
If you are receiving complaints from applicants regarding your existing tracking software, it may be time to make a change.
Older applicant tracking systems are extremely difficult to navigate. The harder it is for a potential employee to apply with your company, the higher the risk becomes of them leaving out of frustration.
If you are unsure about what type of modern applicant tracking system to invest in, you should reach out to an IT professional. With their assistance, choosing an updated and easy to use tracking system will be a breeze.
A Run of the Mill Interview Strategy Can Be Problematic
People who are looking for a job will go on a number of interviews with different companies. After a while, an applicant may start to experience a case of déjà vu due to how similar these interviews are.
Instead of sticking with a formulaic approach to interviewing new applicants, you need to devise a strategy that is all your own.
Ideally, you want potential employees to get excited about the prospect of working with your company. The only way to do this is by making the interview process both engaging and informative.
Before you go in to interview a potential applicant, do your homework. Looking over their resume is a great way to see what type of work they have done in the past.
Making an attempt to break the ice with humor can help you get to really know an applicant during the interview process.
Don’t Leave Applicants in the Dark Regarding Pay Range
If you are having a hard time getting a large number of qualified applicants, it may be time to take a look at how your job listings are structured.
Some businesses make the mistake of including everything but the pay range in a job description. If a person has an existing job but wants a better opportunity, they will definitely want to know about the pay.
Neglecting to include this important information can be disastrous when it comes to drumming up interest for a particular job opening.
Before setting a pay range for your job opening, be sure to do your homework.
You need to make sure the pay you are offering is in line with what your competitors are paying their employees. In some instances, you can offer a bit less than the industry average if you have a great benefits package or other perks.
Giving applicants detailed information regarding the financial compensation you offer can help you attract top talent easily.
Applicants Need to Know What the Job Entails
Are you getting complaints from applicants about your job descriptions being too vague? If so, now is the time to address this issue.
If you are not detailed about what a job entails, it can scare good applicants away.
Informing applicants about the key aspects of their role with your company is essential. With this information, an applicant can decide whether or not a particular job is the right fit for their needs.
Ignoring the need for more details in a job description may lead to the inability to find motivated and experienced candidates.
If you are unsure about how to craft an engaging job description, then working with a professional writer may be a good idea. These professionals will be able to put what you want to convey into words.
Hiring a writer can also help you focus on more important aspects of running your business.
You Shouldn’t Dominate the Conversation During an Interview
One of the most important aspects of the employee hiring process is the interview. Before going into an interview with an applicant, take some time to prepare.
Getting to know a person’s work history and educational background will help you conduct a thorough interview.
The biggest mistake most business owners make when conducting an interview is trying to dominate the conversation. Allowing the applicant to talk can help you get a feel for their personality and what type of goals they have.
Taking a step back and letting the other person talk is the only way to figure out whether or not they are the right hire. Doing this can help you avoid the stress of firing a bad employee later on.
Take Your Time When Making an HR Audit Checklist
Rushing through the development of an HR audit checklist will make optimizing your hiring practices difficult. By taking the time to craft a detailed audit checklist, you can assess what needs to be changed about the way you find and hire new employees.
Are you a business owner in need of advice regarding the legality of firing an employee?
If so, contact us now to find out how we can help.
