Finding the Perfect Employee
Feb 21, 2014
Finding the Perfect Employee
Feb 21, 2014

Finding the Perfect Employee

With last week seeing reports from the ONS that UK unemployment fell by 125,000 to just 7.2% and the latest estimates showing 193,000 more people were in work October to December compared to the previous 3 months, you now have to be extremely creative to find great employees.

Recruiting for an employee to fill your IT requirement can be both a frustrating and time consuming process.  From writing the job spec and the advert, which has to be exciting, challenging and offering that little something interesting to attract great people, to the actual interview with likely candidates, your time is guaranteed to be stretched to the maximum for a period of time.

Here are 5 tips to help you find a great employee

  • When reviewing a CV, look for length of time on the job.  A candidate with several short-term employers of less than 12 months (other than those that have been working in contract roles), could mean a lack of commitment on their part.Of course, with all the redundancies that were around not so long ago, it could just mean that they were caught in the fallout.  However, proceed with care – it isn’t always necessarily a fact that people were laid off because the company was cutting back.  Star performers are laid off as a last resort, so check references carefully, especially if the company is still in business.  You don’t want someone else’s “deadwood”.

 

  • Look for gaps in employment and ask for an explanation.  Long periods out of work can signal time out to update education, or to “give something back”, but it may also indicate something more sinister.

 

  • Watch the employment dates for “overlaps” and if you can, check the cv against a public profile like LinkedIn – does it match?  These could be simple errors, but it may also indicate that the candidate is not being truthful about previous employers.  Ask the candidate to explain it, and be sure to call those employers and verify dates of employment with them.

 

  • Have a copy of the job description at hand when you review the cv’s.  The more skills that match your job description, the more likely you will be to have a great match.  Focus on what they have done in the past that matches what you want them to do.  Write a list of things you want them to do and then ask questions that will get those answers (or lack thereof).

 

  • Sort your likely CV’s into two piles – one for those that look perfect to you, the other for those that look good.  Conduct preliminary telephone interviews and ask them why they want to work for your Company.  Whilst some may not be the superstar for today, you never know if they may be of interest to you in the future.  Leave them with a good feeling about your Company.

 

While these tips aren’t the whole picture in hiring a great employee, using them increases your chances that you will hire the perfect match for your Company.

With the restrictions on information that a previous employer is allowed to give you, it is important to pay attention to all the details you get from the candidate.  It will make the difference between having a GREAT employee working for you or, just having a GOOD one.

Written by Lucy Rawes, Operations Director

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