Yes, unemployment is at a twenty-six year high. But there is good news on the horizon: General hiring for the New Year is on the rise along with new ways to speed up the hiring process. This is not only beneficial for the company, as it will save them both time and money, but applicants can also educate themselves. Applicants can learn more about the companies, available positions and if they really are a good fit for the position for which they are applying. Here are three new hiring trends that companies are testing out in 2010:
- Holding a company open-house: Job applications are flooding in because of the current economic situation. HR departments do not have the time nor the resources to individually communicate with each applicant. To alleviate this issue, companies are sending out thank-you e-mails for interested candidates and inviting them to an open-house. How is this accelerating the application process? A company in Toronto called ILoveRewards Inc. did just this and noted that only 400 applicants showed up. They received 1,200 applications the previous week. This lowered the overall screening process and saved the company both time and money. Take note and take advantage of these meet-and-greet opportunities; they are well worth your time.
- “Speed dating:” Instead of traditional interviews, businesses are using this tactic to create a consistent and less time-consuming initial interview process. I recently went on an interview in Pittsburgh where I was first introduced to this idea of speed-dating. I went from table to table, talking with employees from different departments of the company. Each mini-interview lasted only a few minutes and it was a really unique way to learn a lot about the company in a short amount of time. Also, it is a good way for employers to get a good read on you as a future employee without wasting their time in a full hour-long interview. So be prepared to incorporate as many attributes and as much pertinent personal information (in a span of just a few minutes) as you can.
- Personality tests and behavioral questionnaires: Employers are integrating quizzes and questionnaires into their selection process in order to weed out the wrong types of personalities for certain positions. Some companies have a specific behavioral mold or style for which they are looking. Creating a small quiz that takes the applicant only about ten to fifteen minutes designed to pin-point certain desired characteristics is an upfront strategy to ensure bull’s-eye hiring accuracy. Flexhire will soon be aiding candidates’ application processes with personality and behavioral assessments in the near future.
Job-seekers: You may have a sunny outlook on 2010’s hiring update, but keep up with the latest hiring trends to make the most of your time and energy. Educate yourself and be ready for different and distinguishing tactics used to find the right candidate- which could be you!
What are your thoughts - do you prefer traditional interviews or are you a fan of these new and unique hiring tactics?
By: Laura Pinter, Flexhire Associate
No comments:
Post a Comment