Managing Expectations

Managing Expections (Keeping lines of communication open)

The most important part of a recruitment process is constant communication. It's a bit like dating, you know the bit when after the dinner date you sit watching the phone, endlessly checking your messages to see if the other one has called. You make excuses "he's very busy, he'll probably call tomorrow" or "maybe she didn't write my number down properly... should I call her?". This eventually turns into "I didn't really like them anyway - it would never have worked out".

Now imagine if this was an affair. You spend all day with one job, secretly wishing you were with the other one and trying to stay engaged but really your mind is already unpacking your new stationary in the new office. Unsettling isn't it?

If someone interviews with you, takes the time to research your organization and prepare for questions and answers, the least you should do is let them know as soon as possible how likely they are to get to the next round, or get the job. At Seldon Gill we are passionate about giving feedback as soon as we receive it, and we expect our clients to give it as soon as they can even if it as simple as "we don't have news yet, but we are working on it".

We appreciate that often in a recruitment process there are many people involved and sometimes opinions have to be sought from a range of people, sometimes in different locations or in different time frames. It is therefore a good idea to map out a schedule / timetable for the process and build in feedback times. This means that we can keep the candidate in the loop, and they can be impressed by your company's organizational and communication skills.

In the age of 24/7 communication, where Blackberries rule the world, candidates expect the information flow to keep going, and maintaining momentum is crucial in keeping candidates motivated and focused on the opportunity you are offering; particularly in this very competitive market.

The best recruitment campaign strategies, with winning ads and compelling job descriptions, are great entrees to your business, but if the interview is the main course you need to decide quickly if you are offering a sweet, or settling the bill!