Written by: Laura Lloyd
Who Should Be Involved in the Hiring Process?
Hiring is overwhelming. From writing the ideal job description to finding the best candidates to handling the interview process – it’s a lot to handle. Questions we are often asked are who and how many people should be involved in the hiring process?
The simple answer is the 4 people this role will work with most often. In this highly competitive war for talent, employers must be thoughtful regarding the candidate’s experience. Too many interviews or too many demands on the candidate’s schedule by not streamlining interviews does not reflect well on the employer’s brand. This way, it’s not too overwhelming but provides the prospective candidate with a good idea of the job and the team.
Here’s what we recommend when it comes to people involved in the hiring process:
- Start with the HR Representative or, if needed, the professional Search Consultant who is leading the hiring process as well as scheduling the interviews. They serve to qualify the candidate against the job requirements and evaluate culture fit.
- Next, the candidate should meet the Hiring Manager (often virtually) who leads this position and should be highly involved. They likely know the position best as well as the type of person and skills to look for.
- We often see the Hiring Manager ask potential peers to meet the candidate (often virtually) and recommend this is scheduled right after the Hiring Manager interview as a convenience to the candidate and to maintain good momentum.
- And obviously, we always recommend the final interview to be an in-person interview with the Hiring Manager. This allows the candidate to see the office environment and experience the organization’s culture.
Remember, an interview is a process for the candidate to evaluate the opportunity as much as it is for the company to get to know the candidate. Work quickly and effectively so you won’t lose the candidate to another offer. Put the right people in place for the interview. These are winning ideas for attracting right-fit candidates.
Additional Resources: Read through The High Cost of Average & The Mindset to Hire Excellence.
