Book Takeaway Post: Have a Process
Take each step. Don’t skip!
In a Harvard Business Review post on avoiding hiring disasters, it notes “A carefully crafted hiring process can help avoid most mishaps.” Further, “Needing to fill the role yesterday is not an excuse for shortchanging the process.” Both of these ideas are what Takeaway #2, Have a Process, in my book is all about.
At Intertech, we have nine steps in our hiring process. The steps are:
- Resume reviewed/screened
- Background interview
- Technical exam
- Topgrading interview
- Senior leadership interview
- Personality assessment
- Team interview
- Reference checks
- Background check
Along with following the process, in the same HBR article, it states “Screening for the right soft skills is critical.” I agree. People are hired for skill and fired for personality. Throughout our process, and particularly in steps #5, #6, and #7, we’re looking for a fit to our culture and values.
Finally, if we’re trying to talk ourselves into why this candidate is a good fit at any one of the steps, it’s probably a sign that they aren’t.