New Capstone Blog

Thanks for visiting my blog! 

Effective July 29^th, 2016 I will start contributing content directly to Capstone Search Group’s Blog at http://www.csgrecruiting.com/blogs. 

Please visit the BLOG to read my posts plus more from other contributors at Capstone Search Group.

Chris Winterboer, CPC, RHU| Partner, Senior Search Consultant | Capstone Search Group
2480 Berkshire Pkwy, Ste A | Clive, IA | 50325
Main: 515-987-0242 x453 | Direct: 515-216-5453
cwinterboer@csgrecruiting.com / www.csgrecruiting.com

Recruitment 101: How to greet a candidate for an interview

It may seem like a simple idea, but it is so often mis-handled - how to greet a candidate coming into your office for a face-to-fact job interview. I would like to explore a couple of easy remedies to avoid making a poor first impression at your workplace.

Recently I had a candidate show up for a first meeting with a potential. The receptionist did not have anything on the calendar, the hiring manager had the wrong time on their calendar and was unavailable, and the person that filled in for the initial greeting was so distracted that it was not productive at all. They could have written a blog about how NOT to greet a candidate.

Here are some basic ideas to make sure you are putting your best foot forward to make a candidate feel comfortable coming into an interview:

1) Have an agenda prepared ahead of time for the interview. One of my favorite clients even does this before the interview. They email the job description, an application, directions to the office, and a clear agenda of who they will be meeting with and for how long. Now the candidate knows what to expect, can prepare accordingly, and will be ready to jump right into a conversation upon arrival.

2) Have a meeting place set aside. I can't tell you how many times candidates have followed up with me saying that they did not have a good place to interview. It was at someone's cubicle with a lot of outside noise and distractions. Or a conference room that was double booked and they were kicked out midway through an interview. The worst I've ever heard is that there was not a place at all to interview, so they cancelled the interview altogether. With just a little planning, this can be avoided.

3) Be ready at the appointed time. Another faux pas that is all too common is being late for the interview time. The candidate arrives ten minutes early, waits another fifteen minutes for the hiring manager or interviewer to be ready, and now they're nearly a half hour into waiting awkwardly for the interview to begin. Being so busy that you are late for the interview impresses no one. Instead, make the good impression by being ready a few minutes early to respect everyone's time.

4) Have water available. This one may seem unnecessary to some, but it is such an easy touch to add. If you are expecting someone to be talking for a good portion of the time, a glass or bottle of water is a welcome sight. It is a very small touch that could have a large impact.

5) Shut down all computers and mobile devices. Nothing is worse than sitting down in an interview and within two minutes the hiring manager or interviewer takes a call, looks at a text, or checks emails. No matter how "important" the subject matter, it sends a terrible message. Avoid the temptation altogether by shutting everything down and focusing on the candidate sitting across the desk or table.

While this all may seem too easy, I am here to tell you that many companies do not do any of these actionable items before an interview. You could already be several steps ahead of your competition for good talent by implementing even one or two of these options!

The first 90 days of a new job

When is the last time you tried a new workout? Did it have a 90-day plan to begin? If so, I would imagine it outlines the ups and downs that come with changing your diet, your exercise, and your sleeping patterns. In many ways, the first 90 days of a new job are similar.

First of all, you have to commit to leaving behind an old way of life. With a workout plan it might be most difficult to give up eating the foods you love. Or perhaps sleeping in until 7:00 instead of waking up to an alarm at 5:30 am. With a new job you may tend to focus on the good you left behind in your previous job. There was obviously some reason that you left in the first place, but as you adjust to a new work schedule and environment, it is human nature to wonder if you made the right decision. Maybe you used to have a perk or two at your previous employer that you don't have any longer, and it creates some doubt in your mind. Don't allow that to creep in, especially in the first 90 days. Focus instead on the reasons why you left the old way of life (or job) behind.

Next, you have to acknowledge there is bound to be some pain with the gain. When you start a new workout, you are bound to have muscle soreness and fatigue. That is your body's way of re-building and healing as you gain strength. The same concept will come with a new job. You have to learn new office politics, build new friendships, take some risks, and be uncomfortable at times. If you can really embrace this and pull the Band-Aid off early, your transition will be much more smooth.

Then after some initial gain, you might plateau and not see results. With a workout that can be really frustrating. You see immediate results in a few weeks and then for a few weeks don't see much at all. With a new job this part may not be quite as frustrating, but it happens quite often. The first few weeks are exciting and may even involved a bigger company event or accomplishment. Then a few more weeks go by and you're waiting to start a new project or something is put on hold. I have even had candidates tell me during this part of the transition that they are bored. While certainly not a good thing, some of this is bound to happen. Patience is the best medicine here, along with having someone to talk to, like a mentor or third party recruiter. These moments usually don't last for long and you are back on track before you know it.

Lastly, you get to the end of the 90 days and almost have another decision to make. With a workout plan it is whether or not to dial it down or try something different. With a job you can't be quite so cavalier. But there is certainly some truth to the idea. You will have had a chance to see most of the inner workings and culture of a company or department in 90 days. Be honest with yourself and assess if this is what you really signed up for. Most times it is in my experience, and then it is time to face all of the challenges of maintaining and improving upon your routines to have a "happy and healthy" next 90 days!