MightyRecruiterPerfectionism & Hiring Process
One of the challenges that comes with interviewing and hiring employees is expectation. After months or years of interviewing candidates and hiring new employees, it is not uncommon for HR professionals to develop a set of criteria they except to see from candidates before they even start to assess whether or not they meet the requirements of the positions they are interviewing for. Although being able to determine which candidates are more advantageous than others is an important skill to have, it is important not to misuse it by expecting perfection. Perfectionism and the hiring process do not mix.
Expecting perfection can cause delays in the hiring process. Ever tell yourself you are looking for candidates that are more qualified, or who have a specific mix of personality traits, skills and experience that are not necessarily readily available in the pool of candidates you have been screening Do you seem to procrastinate during the hiring process in hopes of improving your chances of hiring the perfect professional Do you have trouble with perfectionism and the hiring process If you can answer yes to two out of the three questions mentioned above, there is a good chance you need to reanalyze your approach to maintain realistic expectations and better results. Here are some ways you can revamp your hiring process and expectations so you can hire the best candidates.
Stop Looking Through Rose Colored Glasses
See candidates for who they really are. Expecting perfection makes it much harder for you to see everything potential employees are bringing to the table. Instead of focusing on skills and attributes you expect for candidates to have, start focusing on the ones they actually possess. Make a list of must have skills that are priority and use it to help you to assess the authenticity of potential employees.
Assemble a Team
Even if you are the most qualified professional to interview and qualify new employees, sometimes it is much better to make hiring decisions as a team. You are only one person and even your best intentions may cause you to miss out on key information during the interview which may inadvertently cause you to hire the wrong person. Don’t be overconfident or become arrogant in your abilities. Know what your own strengths and weaknesses are and put together a team of professionals who can help to make your company’s hiring process a more well-rounded one. Having a group of individuals present and managing different aspects of the interview process can help to provide you with a more complete picture of candidates and prevent perfectionism and the hiring process.
Self-Criticize to Learn From the Past
In order to move forward and improve the caliber of employees you hire, you have to be willing to learn from past mistakes. Frequently go back over your past interviews and look for clues that you may have missed. Being able to constructively criticize one’s self to learn is a very valuable skill to have that can help you to discover new ways to avoid mistakes while making better decisions.
Recognize Perfectionism in Others
It is not uncommon for some individuals to want to impress hiring personnel so much that they act like the perfect candidate. While this behavior may scream out to your inner perfectionist, you need to remember this could very well be an act. It is your job to be able to see through appearances to see the real person underneath. Anyone who seems to be promoting themselves excessively, has a track record of being conservative job wise and avoids talking about past mistakes and failures are individuals you may want to pass on. Healthy signs of perfectionism and the hiring process would be job candidates who exude confidence, are humorous, engaging and willing to go into details about past mistakes.
When it comes to employees, it is important for you to consider each one like an investment. In order to make good investment decisions, you have to weigh the pros and cons so you can minimize your risks. You also have to keep in mind that job candidates will put their best foot forward in order to win your favor because you have something they want, the capacity to give them a job. In your quest to hire the best candidates for your organization, don’t forget to keep a realistic perspective.
For more information to help you with perfectionism and the hiring process, check out the resources here at Mighty Recruiter.