Securing talented EHS employees can be a challenge. That’s why it’s critical to create a strong interview process to help you find and hire the best candidates for your organization.
Here are some helpful strategies for developing an improved interview process to ensure you’re hiring well-qualified EHS staff.
1. Establish your company values. Be sure to define your company identity — what are your core values and mission? If you don’t communicate these to your job candidates, you risk hiring people who don’t fit well into your organizational culture. When you have clearly defined organizational values, you’ll be more likely to find employees who align with and support them.
2. Don’t avoid asking the basic questions during interviews. Sometimes it’s good to get back to the basics when it comes to interview questions. When you are trying to ask complex questions, it can be easy for you to get carried away. Consider including some of those basic, but essential questions in your interviews to help you gauge those important, but sometimes overlooked skills, such as the ability to communicate effectively, be adaptable, and work well with the entire team. You may be talking to a very skilled EHS professional, but if they aren’t able to work efficiently with team members, it could mean they may not be the right fit for your company.
3. Make a point of asking the big questions as well. In addition to asking your job candidates those basic questions, be sure to include some of the more difficult questions that may make your applicants have to think a bit during the interview. This will help you to bring innovative and forward-thinking employees into your organization. Example: What would you implement to improve the company’s safety strategy?
4. Be honest with job candidates. Make sure to clearly articulate the position’s responsibilities. Don’t try to make the job sound better than it is in order to increase the chances that a candidate will accept your job offer. If you hire someone and they realize the job doesn’t match what they anticipated, they will likely quit very quickly. Ask job applicants if they have any questions for you after the interview and answer them honestly. Establishing trust early on will ensure new hires will be committed to doing a great job and staying with your company for the long term.
5. Work to continually improve your interview process. It can take some time to perfect your strategy for interviewing job candidates. You will find what works well for your organization as you continue to interview applicants. It’s essential to make some changes each year to stay up to date with the constantly changing business world. Hiring a recruiting firm like Aarcher Talent can also help you refine your entire hiring strategy and secure the best candidates for your open positions.
Hiring is a difficult but critical responsibility that you have to deal with as a manager. Making sure the interview process goes smoothly is vital to hire the talent who will drive your business forward. Implement these strategies to help you get your interview process in shape to ensure you hire the best candidates.
Adapted from: How to Ask the Right Questions to Get the Best Candidates, EHS Insight Resources, EHS Insight Blog.