Hills I’ll Die On™️ returns!
In today’s edition of Hills I’ll Die On™️: Everyone is obsessed with bigger candidate funnels. But converting the pipeline you already have is the bigger issue in hiring.
There’s a few reasons for this:
1. “Grass is always greener” mentality is rooted in human psychology. There will always be a tendency to think there is someone ‘better’ out there which drags out a search.
Check-the-box hiring exists for a (bad) reason. The more boxes, the better the hire!
But anyone can look at the top 10 people in their organization and realize a lot of them weren’t “slam dunk” hires. Interviewing is not a perfect process but we treat it like it is.
2. “Cover your a$$” hiring is also a thing. No one wants to make the wrong decision and look bad to their boss.
Knowing that you’ll never get it right 100% of the time, the easiest way to fake due diligence is to interview a boatload of people. (And drag the process out in the meantime.)
(Real due diligence is improving evaluations to increase your success rate. Another rant for another day.)
3. “Oh crap we lost our pipeline, they took other jobs” is what happens because of the points above. At which point, yes you need more candidates.
Getting to the point of today’s rant. The keys to converting you pipeline are:
👉Selling candidates on what’s in it for them. Why they should join your company.
and
👉Not Going Radio Silent
Nothing says “I’m not that into you” more than silence. Sometimes time frames change. Or requirements. Or another candidate is favored. Or there’s a vacation or key deliverable slowing things up.
You’re not going to believe this but candidates understand these things.
What they don’t understand is why you blew them off. And then why you’re suddenly interested again. No one wants to work in an organization that operates like that.
And that’s how a yes is turned into a no. Taking you back to square 1.
Talk to your candidates, dum dum.
The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 83 “Dumb Hiring Ideas Are Back, Baby!” available here.
Partner at Hirewell. #3 Ranked Sarcastic Commenter on LinkedIn.
