Hiring Takeaways from the 2016 Presidential Election

REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL PREFERENCES, THE ELECTION HAS PROVED AT LEAST ONE THING WITH CERTAINTY—BRINGING IN THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB ISN’T EASY. WHETHER YOUR BUSINESS IS HIRING AN ENTRY-LEVEL ADMIN OR AN EXPERIENCED MANAGER, HERE ARE A FEW TAKEAWAYS TO HELP SHAPE YOUR HIRING POLICY AND LIMIT UNNECESSARY TURNOVER.

CANDIDATE POTENTIAL

Experience is typically the first thing that hiring managers look for in a job candidate. Unfortunately, a candidate’s experience and what the role requires rarely align perfectly. Without an incumbent running in this year’s election, America was left to make a hiring decision based on each candidate’s potential. In an age of strategic HR, it may seem counterintuitive to make a hiring decision based on potential, but on-the-job experience isn’t the only consideration. Instead, when reviewing resumes or conducting interviews, ask candidates to explain how their experience—or lack thereof—could translate well into the role and benefit your company.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Politicians understand the importance of social media. Your business would be remiss not to have a digital strategy for hiring as well. Social media can be a valuable part of your business’ recruitment strategy, whether to establish an open line of communication with jobseekers or to advertise available positions.

GROUP INTERVIEWS

Seeing candidates in the context of a heated debate revealed a great deal this election season. Hiring managers may want to consider this same strategy as a way to get to know job candidates. Holding a group interview can give hiring managers the opportunity to see how well candidates work with others. This type of forum can also reveal behavior that wouldn’t have come up in a one-on- one interview. One-on- one interviews are important, but putting a few candidates in the same room can help hiring managers make a better decision about which person is best for the job.

Finding the right candidate for your open position can be difficult. In Hawai‘i, the price of paradise tends to be an even longer and more frustrating hiring process. By staying abreast of new and unique hiring strategies, businesses can ensure they are not only reaching a breadth of candidates but are also hiring the right candidates and positioning them to succeed.