When Hiring Isn't Producing the Results You Need
Maybe the search is taking too long. Maybe the candidate pool is disappointing. Maybe interviews are not creating enough confidence. Or maybe people are being hired, but the results still fall short of what the business needs.
That's when I enter the picture.
I help employers figure out what is actually getting in the way of a good hiring decision - then provide the level of experienced support needed to help correct it.
Sometimes the problem is obvious.
Often, it isn't.
The Problem May Not Be What It First Appears to Be
A weak candidate pool may actually begin with how the role was defined.
A slow search may have more to do with compensation, market assumptions, or the way the opportunity is being presented.
Interview problems may really be evaluation problems.
And a difficult hiring decision may simply mean the team never agreed on what success should look like in the first place.
My first job is not to provide prospective clients with a recruiting solution. It's to help determine what is actually getting in the way of a good hiring decision.
That distinction matters because adding more recruiting activity will not fix the wrong problem.
Tap to Image to Enlarge
Situations That Often Bring Me In
Sometimes the hiring problem is easy to describe. Other times, you just know the process is not producing the result it should.
The Role Is Not Clearly Defined.
The team is recruiting, but people are not aligned on what success in the job actually looks like.
The Market Is Not Responding.
The search is active, but the right candidates are not showing up or the opportunity is not attracting enough interest.
Too Many Applicants. Too Little Confidence.
There may be plenty of resumes, but not enough evidence to know who deserves serious consideration.
Opinions Instead of Evidence.
Interviewers are reacting differently to the same candidates, asking different questions, or relying too heavily on impressions.
The Finalists Are Hard to Separate.
The team has narrowed the field, but distinguishing the strongest candidate from the rest is becoming difficult.
The Hiring Team Needs More Guidance. Some members of the team may be inexperienced, inconsistent, or simply need more structure and support through the hiring process.
Sometimes I Solve One Problem. Sometimes I Work Alongside the Team.
The amount of help depends on the situation.
FOCUSED HELP
Sometimes the right answer is a small intervention.
That might mean reviewing the role, improving a job post, evaluating an applicant pool, strengthening interviews, comparing finalists, or helping resolve a difficult hiring decision.
HANDS-ON SUPPORT
Sometimes the team needs more help along the way. I can work alongside the hiring executive and team through as much of the hiring cycle as needed - from defining the role through screening, interviewing, evaluation, and the final decision.
We mutually decide what help is needed, what I’ll do, and how long I should remain involved.
How I Work
Find the real problem before deciding on the solution.
Apply the right level of help where it will matter most.
Improve the quality of evidence and the hiring decision.
Some situations need only a focused review or a few hours of experienced guidance. Others benefit from more hands-on support through several stages of the hiring process.
Your fee reflects the expertise and support the situation actually requires - not a larger engagement than you need.
Why Bring Me In
Experience helps separate symptoms from causes.
I’ve spent more than five decades working in recruiting, hiring, HR, and candidate evaluation. That includes 29 years coaching and evaluating the work of more than 2,000 in-house recruiters across large employers and fast-growing companies.
That experience helps me recognize patterns, ask better questions, and focus attention on what is most likely to improve the hiring decision.
50+ years in recruiting and hiring | 29 years coaching 2,000+ in-house recruiters
Start With the Hiring Problem
You do not need to have the problem completely figured out before we talk.
If hiring is not producing the results you need, we can start with what is happening and determine whether I can help.