What Is Our Candidate Recruitment Process?
At Specialized Recruitment Group, we understand that finding the right talent is critical. A poor hire can result in lost time and resources and decreased productivity. But, the blow to company morale can be even more costly (and lasting). A solid candidate recruitment process is foundational to a successful hire.
We don’t take any chances. Every candidate goes through the same vigorous screening process. After 18 years of recruiting candidates, we’ve tried, tested, and refined our approach. We’re proud to have earned ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing award in 2023 for the seventh year in a row.
To give you confidence in our candidate recruitment process, we’ve outlined it here. There are five main steps involved:
Position Discovery
Candidate Search
Matching Skills to Position
Reference Checks and Interviews
Candidate Selection
Position Discovery
We start our recruitment process by focusing on you. We want to understand your company’s culture, requirements, and desired hiring qualities. A thorough understanding of your values and the job’s needs is the foundation for success. We aim to present a candidate that will meet and exceed your expectations.
Next, our recruitment specialists work with you to create a strategy to meet your needs. They will discuss the timeline, recruitment process, and communication channels. Regular communication is a crucial aspect. Expect (at least) weekly updates from our recruiters. We aim to work together to find the perfect candidate for you. That means keeping you updated.
CANDIDATE SEARCH
Once we understand the culture and the job requirements, we’ll start our search. When it comes to candidates, there are two types. The first is active candidates. These are the candidates who are seeking out and applying for job postings. There’s nothing wrong with job searching, but perfect candidates often aren’t looking. Usually, and especially with specialized roles, ideal candidates are already employed. We refer to these candidates as passive candidates. Perfect for the job, but not looking currently. With the right offer, and approach, these candidates will often consider moving companies.
Our agency has a vast database of candidates, both active and passive. We have maintained connections with industry professionals over the years. Frequently, professionals will reach out and let us know when they are considering a new role. These connections prove invaluable for our clients. We provide them access to candidates they would never usually interact with. But we don’t stop there.
Our recruiters use traditional and digital channels to connect with potential candidates. Some of our tactics include online job boards, social media channels, digital ads, content marketing, email marketing, mass texting, and phone calls.
Our dynamic and focused search is one of the most significant benefits for companies that work with us. Internal recruiters don’t have the same time and resources a devoted recruiting office can invest in a candidate search. HR departments have a multitude of functions they are responsible for. We have one: find and qualify the best person for the job.
Many clients find our services complement their HR team rather than compete with it. Some of our most successful client relationships are companies with robust HR departments. We work well in tandem with HR leaders and teams.
MATCHING SKILLS TO POSITION
After identifying potential candidates, we’ll compile a short list. At this point, we aim to whittle the shortlist down to ideal candidates only. Candidates that match the skills and experience of the position you’re looking to fill only.
This is why the Initial Discussion phase is so important. We’re not only looking for a skills and experience match (although that’s critical). We’re looking for intangibles like personality traits, culture values, and professional goals. These are essential hiring pieces but won’t show up in a resume. And often not in a preliminary interview (unless you dig for them - which we do).
Our recruitment specialists vet every candidate to ensure they meet your requirements. Going above and beyond is par for the course. The candidates we present have the skills and experience necessary to excel on your team.
REFERENCE CHECKS AND INTERVIEWS
Once we’ve identified candidates, we begin the reference check process. Our recruitment specialists reach out to the candidate’s references. We verify their employment history, qualifications, and work performance. We speak to supervisors and managers to discuss work ethic, professionalism, and suitability.
Also, we conduct phone and in-person interviews with the candidate. During these interviews, we assess their qualifications further. We find the video interview valuable, as a visual conversation reveals much more about a person. Our recruiters ask the right questions, dig deep, and determine the candidate’s technical skills, work experience, and soft skills. Our goal is a comprehensive understanding of the candidate’s strengths, weaknesses, and fit.
Your time is valuable. That’s why we’re serious about this step. When we present a candidate, you know your time isn’t wasted. We present only the top candidates who have gone through our vetting process.
CANDIDATE SELECTION
After the interview, we present our top candidates for your final decision. Our recruitment specialists provide the information you need to make the best decision.
Depending on the role, you’ll want to schedule an interview and discuss the candidates. At this point in the recruitment process, it’s important to be fast, as these candidates are the best of the best. Often, they are fielding other job offers and won’t wait long. If you need more time to consider, communicate that with us. We’ll do our best to keep the candidate informed and at ease.
Specialized Recruiting Group has a proven process helping you find the perfect candidate. We understand your company’s culture and requirements, search for candidates, match their skills, perform reference checks and interviews, and finally present them for your decision.
If you’re interested in learning more, our team is happy to chat. Call our office (780-484-5454), or fill out an inquiry form, and we’ll reach out.