While it might be that choosing who will work as a store clerk in your retail business is important, when it comes to hiring high-level professionals, things can get a little less easy to discern. There comes a point where the applicant is so qualified and so comparable to the next person along, and the next person, that you feel making a decision between them will only be an artificial preference.
Of course, if this is your own business, you are free to discern as you wish. But as a recruiter or someone working in this role through an outsourced capacity? You never want to present the subjective opinion, but the objective opinion of who is right for the job.
But how can you possibly choose? It might just be tempting to break out the coin and flip it high into the air, throwing the future of each professional into a 50/50 chance. But of course, that would be unfair to both. What is essential is applying yourself to the task, and finding out the truth that resides underneath.
So, let us help you do that:
Authenticity
It can sometimes be that your business is somewhat informal, and that means you can consider the applicants and their worthwhile pedigree in a more social setting. For example, consider someone applying for the role of a personal trainer at a franchised gym. Now, the interview will tell you some information. Their conduct during the trial shift will also tell you something. But why not work out together? This is, of course, is the purpose of the job.
When keeping up a conversation with them about their personal life or asking friendly questions, they let down their ‘PR guard’ just a little and when under the physical load of lifting weights, their true persona will come out just a little more. If it’s vastly different, irritable or somewhat aggressive, there’s a chance that this will come out at some point in front of the clients. If they keep their cool, are positive and encouraging to be around, you know you have somewhat of a keeper.
The same goes for many businesses in certain capacities. Even for a legal applicant coming out of law school, applying for perhaps one of the most formal jobs there could be, heading to a working lunch or heading on a walk around the town while discussing their application could help you get out of the usual stuffy atmosphere of the office and speak a little more authentically. It’s these little decisions that can make all the difference, and help you relate a little more to the person you are conversing with. After all, you do not hire a resume, but a person, with a personality worth getting to know.
Pay Attention To The ‘Interests’ Category
Right there at the bottom of a resume, most applicants will have a tiny section about their personal life or interests. It’s usually not long at all, perhaps only a few bullet points. It will often simply say what they are in to – be that knitting, hiking, mountain climbing, or volunteering. While you can ask them to go further into these interests to get some insight into their character, it’s not that easy to verify this as you might refer to past work by contacting an old employer, or when you learn how to recruit on LinkedIn.
But there are interests that are often quite worthwhile to have and show the character of the person you might be interested in hiring. Someone who is a black belt in a martial arts likely has discipline, the ability to hone skills until they are perfect, and personal confidence worth keeping in mind. They are likely responsible and dedicated to the task at hand.
On the other hand, someone who livestreams themselves eating takeaway food to an online audience, while novel, may not have the skills that you wish for your business. Do not make or break an application based on this information. But it can often texture the person in front of you delving a little deeper into this – or reading this resume section in the first place.
Do Not Be Afraid Of Further Interviews
It might be that you feel not all of your questions were fully answered in a previous interview due to nerves, or you simply wish to learn more about a person. If you have a good feeling about them, do not be afraid to call them in for another or even a third interview if you wish. They will often comply, as this can only be a good sign. Sometimes, this can reveal information to help your decision in the end.
With this advice, you are sure to find the best applicant for the job.