Category: Job Interviews

For a company or organization to stay ahead of the pack, implementing a smart hiring process is of paramount importance to avoid recruiting the wrong people and reduce the risk of damaging reputational and financial consequences. In order to hire qualified professionals that are a suitable fit for the job, make sure to bear in mind the following points:

It all starts with the job description

A poorly written job description is a sure-fire way to attract unsuitable candidates and scare away the right ones. For this reason, make sure the vacancy post includes the necessary job requirements and highlights what the company has to offer, while keeping it brief and straightforward.

Take advantage of social media

In today’s digital age, utilizing channels such as LinkedIn, Facebook and even Instagram are key to ensuring your job post is being actively circulated, while coming across as a company that is progressive and follows digital trends – thus helping you draw smart applicants.

Never underestimate the importance of soft skills

In addition to having the relevant knowledge and professional experience required for the job, considering the candidate’s personality is crucial to gauging how they would handle certain social situations. Technical aspects of a job can easily be taught or acquired, whereas emotional intelligence, communication skills and social skills cannot.

Check their social media profiles

Not to downplay the importance of embedding a proper background screening program at the core of your recruitment process, but checking a candidate’s social media accounts can provide further insight on the person you are hiring.

So you received a call confirming the job interview you have been trying to secure. In anticipation, you have researched the company, looked up the job requirements, found out who will be interviewing you, prepared copies of your resume, reviewed answers for anticipated questions and planned when to leave the house in order to arrive on time. Sounds organised so far, right? However, more importantly, what are the things you should avoid when you walk into an interview? Here is a list of the top fifteen most common mistakes people make:

• Showing up too early or too late
• Dressing inappropriately
• Wearing too much perfume or cologne
• Chewing gum
• Forgetting to introduce yourself
• Leaving your cell phone on
• Texting or taking a call during the interview
• Talking too much
• Cutting off the interviewer
• Not talking enough
• Not smiling enough
• Not making eye contact
• Criticizing your previous company
• Asking about salary, benefits and leaves right away
• Not thanking the interviewer for the opportunity once the interview is over

Are you expecting to be asked to undergo a background check as part of the interviewing and hiring process? Stay prepared and find out all you need to know about employment screening by visiting our blog!

In this day and age where the job market is cutthroat, competition is fierce and unemployment is on the rise, job seekers are going to great lengths to gain an edge over their peers. In addition to blatantly forging personal and professional documents, some choose to resort to a seemingly less extreme measure; embellishing their resumes. Whether they are small exaggerations or bold lies, not identifying these misrepresentations at the hiring stage can come at a great price.

A considerable number of companies fail because of bad recruitment decisions. To help your organization avoid this, we have created a list of the most common resume fabrications you should keep an eye out for:

• The applicant may have only attended a course at a university or college, yet lists it to appear as though they had graduated from the institution. And sometimes, they may not have attended at all! With diploma mills being a lucrative billion dollar industry, the threat is very real.
• Inaccurate dates of employment are easy to skew, whether it is by stretching the tenure to cover job gaps or by claiming to be self-employed to justify an extended period of unemployment.
• Incorrect or incomplete references are another concerning issue, usually given to conceal poor performance at a previous job, in hopes that you will not take the time to trace the provided number. Other applicants may even direct you to a friend or family member posing as a previous manager.
• Fabricating a higher job title to secure a higher paying position, expecting you to offer them a similar title to the false one listed on their resume.

If hired, a dishonest applicant may lead a company or organization to lose hefty sums of money in hiring, training, salary, replacement and lawsuit costs, not to mention the inevitable loss of both current and potential clients. The only way to remain protected against these risks is to review received resumes with a critical eye and authenticate all listed information using a reliable and rigorous verification process – not only at the recruitment stage for new hires, but also on a periodic basis for existing employees.

Click here to learn more about Primary Source Verification (PSV) and how it can help safeguard your establishment against untruthful individuals!

Identify Your Market Worth

Not sure what professionals in your position are getting? Ask around to find out pay and benefits of comparable jobs, and use that information to negotiate your starting salary.

Get Off to a Good Start

During your first week, ask questions and pay careful attention to the corporate culture of the company. Also, make sure to get a clear outline of your manager’s expectations for your first month on the job.

Be an Invaluable Asset to the Company

This is done by being reliable, direct, common-sense focused and bottom-line oriented. By thinking about the bigger picture, you will certainly be able to move ahead.

Acknowledge Your Weaknesses

Don’t pretend you have none. Identifying and understanding your weak points is the fastest way to overcome them. Your manager will also appreciate your openness and your readiness to make positive changes.

Climb the Ladder

Don’t get ahead of yourself. Before you ask for a raise, ask for more work. This will show your manager that you are capable of handling greater responsibility, thus increasing your chances of actually getting the raise.

Don’t Burn Bridges

Even if you got the job you’ve been wanting, exit your current job with grace by giving appropriate notice and by helping find a replacement. This way, you’ll leave your old coworkers and company with a positive impression, thus keeping an open door for future cooperation.