If you want to improve your recruiting, says business consultant Jon Picoult, try giving job candidates a pleasant surprise. Just what does he mean by that?
One way to give them a pleasant surprise is by just being professional. These are what you might call the basics. Make sure the employment application is easy to fill out. Have a job description that is clear and gives all the pertinent information about a job. And return applicants’ phone calls in a timely manner.
All of these things may look like so much of the obvious. But, Picoult says, many companies ignore them, making the process that much more difficult for applicants.
So when they encounter a company that does all these things, they are pleasantly surprised.
Another way to give a pleasant surprise to an applicant is with eye contact and a smile, Picoult says. Again, these may seem like simple things, but in our digital, fast-paced, overworked world, they have become less common. But when an applicant is approached with a smile, he knows that the company really cares about him, that he’s more than just a resume.
Again, in the same vein, you should make the candidate feel special, especially finalists for the job. And this is just a matter of politeness and civility. Let them know how glad you are to see them, how happy you are that they are interviewing with the company. Make them feel special, Picoult says.
See to their needs, Picoult says. For example, if a candidate has made a long drive to get to your company, you should let him know where the restrooms are, or offer him a bottled water or some other beverage. Again, it all is a message that you care about the candidate and it separates you from all of the other companies who fail to do this.
When the candidate is finished interviewing, you should give him written directions on how to get to the airport, or for driving home.
You might also offer him the opportunity to briefly shadow an employee in the workplace to really get an idea of how the operation works.
After making a job offer, Picoult also advises giving the candidate a package of information that presents in detail the compensation and related benefits that go with the job, such as training programs and discounts. It’s another way of giving a candidate a pleasant surprise – and a potent element of your sales pitch to join the company.
All of these things are not hard to do, but they will leave a definite impression in the applicant’s mind about the thoughtfulness and friendliness of people at your company.
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