Effective Recruitment

Finding the Best People For Your Team

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In theory, recruitment should be simple, and many managers perform the same routine: they write a job description, put an ad in the newspaper or online, wait for the résumés to arrive, and then hire the person they like the best.

It all sounds so simple. But there's usually more to the process just "picking the best." How will you know if a candidate is likely to get on with the rest of the team, or with your organization's culture? What if a candidate doesn't accurately describe their skills, and so, in reality, is incapable of doing the job? And how can you make sure that the best people apply for a position?

Recruitment mistakes waste time, money, and organizational resources, and they can really hold a team back. This is why learning how to recruit effectively is such a smart move for managers. Indeed, recruiting is one of the most important jobs that a manager does, and its one of the main ways in which good managers differentiate themselves from bad ones.

Why Effective Recruitment Matters

There are many reasons why it's worth the extra time and effort to recruit effectively. For example:

• The right people in the right roles will be more productive – They'll also be less likely to leave the organization. High staff turnover is a serious problem for you, as their manager, as well as for your team and your organization.
• A poor hiring decision may cause stress and conflict within your team – If your new recruit has personality issues or isn't a "team player," this may lower productivity for everyone.
• You'll save time and resources – Just think about the last time you or your organization made a hiring mistake. The person hired took time, money, and energy away from the team and the company for months, or even years. Plus, if you make a hiring mistake, you'll have to go through the recruitment process all over again!

So, it pays to put real effort into getting the hiring decision right.

The Open Position

Before you start looking for a new candidate, follow these steps:

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