When assessing applicants’ profiles,
the ability to read between the lines is all-important. Here are our top tips
for sorting the best from the rest.
Beware blaggers
There is a big difference between somebody who knows the
right things to include in their profile or CV and a candidate who is, frankly,
a bit of a chancer.
As an employer and an expert in your sector, you know what
the main responsibilities of a particular role are, and what it takes to be a
success in the field. So if somebody claims to have completed superhuman
workloads and revolutionised their former workplace single-handedly, they are
probably best taken with a pinch of salt.
Learning to spot this type of candidate can save you a lot of
time. Especially if you’re assessing a video, look out for overconfidence,
florid and/or boastful language, and grand, sweeping claims.
Putting in a shift?
Which is preferable – somebody who’s worked for ten companies
but left each of their jobs after 8 months, or a candidate that has held
relatively few positions but has occupied them for a number of years? There are
no hard and fast rules – if you’re dealing in temp work then this is likely to
matter less – but if you’re looking for permanent employees, ask yourself: why
has this person been unable to hold down a job in the sector?
3. Qualifications
How many qualifications does a stellar job applicant possess?
In some respects this is a sector specific question. In many industries, trade
accreditations and good old university of life experience will preferable to
traditional academic qualifications. But on the other hand, it depends what
sort of candidate you are looking for. It’s your call. Does candidate X have a
barrel full of A-levels and three degrees from a top-ranking university? The
real question you need to think about is, does that matter to you?
Experience
At the end of the day it’s all about experience and the
ability to do the job, so it goes without saying that you should always be on
the lookout for candidates with a proven track record.
The hard part for any employer is finding a fool-proof way to
sort the best from the rest. Here at staffbay.com, we make all the relevant
information about each job candidate available at the click of a button, so you
don’t have to do the hard work – simply sit back and watch experienced
candidates come to you.