Hiring Under a Tight Deadline? Here’s What You Should Do.
How many times has this happened to you? An employee leaves unexpectedly. Demand explodes suddenly. Or a new project comes along that needs to meet an ambitious deadline. Suddenly, you need to hire one or more supply chain professionals, and you need them sooner rather than later.
The problem with hiring in a hurry is that mistakes are much more likely to occur. And, as supply chain recruiting experts, ZDA knows that when errors happen, it can have a big impact on the quality of the candidates you’re hiring.
So, what kinds of mistakes should you be careful not to make when you need to fill a position fast? Here are four errors to watch for:
Mistake #1: Not properly defining the job.
Not all supply chain employees are alike! They may have the skills you need, but not the other qualities you want. You also need to outline what kinds of tasks and projects this person will be responsible for, so candidates can get a strong sense of whether they’re the right fit for the job. Hurrying through this process will only hurt you in the long run when you wind up with a new hire that’s not right for your needs.
Mistake #2: Not focusing on job-specific qualifications.
When you’re interviewing a supply chain candidate who looks great on paper and sounds terrific in an interview, it can be easy to get caught up in the moment. You may not realize it at the time, but the majority of the skills and accomplishments they’re touting aren’t really related to the position you’re hiring for. Make sure their background and your hiring needs are a solid match…even if that means hiring someone with less experience.
Mistake #3: Not checking references.
You may think that reference checking is simply a formality, especially in a niche industry like supply chain. Something to be done, but that doesn’t really yield any results, right? Wrong. Many times, referral sources offer information that can sway your hiring decision one way or another. Don’t pass up the opportunity to learn something useful or valuable about a person you’re thinking of bringing on board!
Mistake #4: Not evaluating attitude.
Of course skills are important; but so is attitude. And if you’re not working to ensure you hire someone with the right attitude – and the right personality – to fit in with your culture, then you’ll be back to the drawing board in no time.
Don’t have time to hire the employees you need? Leave it to ZDA Supply Chain Recruiting. We have the knowledge, experience, and proven processes in place to assist you. Next time you need to hire, contact us. We’ll be happy to help!