Posts Tagged ‘employee personality test’

Top 5 Job Posting Mistakes - How Job Jargon Can Affect Your Hiring Selection

Monday, June 15th, 2009

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So what’s the deal with all the different ways employers post jobs these days? Seems like you’ve got 15 ways of saying the same thing and calling an “Executive Assistant” something that it’s not. Also, why is it that you’re asking for simple qualifications but trying to make them sound complex and intense by adding ubiquitous and word-intensive phrases to state the obvious when the obvious would have just done the trick to accurately and descriptively describe the actual position for which you’re hiring for?… See what I did there… tough crowd. Try the veal.

Really though. If you’ve taken a look recently at any of the major job boards, chances are you could find the same position, described twelve different times although they are really just the same. Why is that? More importantly, what are you trying to convey? Let’s not kid ourselves, at the end of the day, we all know what we’re talking about. Using elaborate “Job Jargon” can seriously affect your pre-employment screening process and therefore, here are some tips on posting an accurate and representative description of your job:

1. Be Honest About Your Expectations
Don’t try to make a construction job sound like you’re looking for a laid off plastic surgeon. Stick to the key points and responsibilities of the job, because chances are if you inflate the description of what you’re actually looking for you’ll:

A) Get a strange and completely over-qualified pool of applicants who in turn will want an equally inflated compensation package.
B) A completely useless talent pool since all the applicants will not have the necessary hard skills that are actually required to fulfill the requirements of the job. Again, if you’re hiring for construction workers but make it sound like you’re in need of a CA - chances are most CA’s won’t want to do manual labour - at least not on the construction site and for a living.

2. Elaborate On Nothing
Rather then creating a wonderfully written and detailed job posting, leave something to the imagination. The danger of saying too much as that you’ll potentially discount many qualified and capable applicants on the basis of what you may have said. If an applicant is truly interest in the position, you’ll know because chances are you’ll receive a resume or email from them. Therefore, stick to the facts and be prepared to go into more details once you’ve met your candidates in the flesh.

3. Lay Off The Labels
In a day and age where you can get a PhD or MBA by answering your spam email - refrain from making your job sound like something they’re not. Directors, VP’s and Account Executives come a dime a dozen these days, so don’t try to impress anyone with the title. If you’re looking for a manager, don’t advertise the position as anything above that level. Otherwise be prepared to dole out above-managerial salary that comes with. You may also just end up with individuals looking to score a sweet title and nothing else. Although one can make the argument that the line of titles is blurred, use your best judgment and advertise the position as something slightly lower then what it actually is.

4. Use An Appropriate Job Board/Posting Tool
Did you know there are literally thousands of niche job boards out there. Take a look at the Beyond.com network for example. You can find anything from geographical to industry and trade sites at Beyond and many other websites that offer job posting services. Make sure that you post your position on the appropriate niche job posting site, chances are they exist. Doing so will increase the possibility of you receiving quality applicants that at least have the right qualifications that you’re looking for.

5. Use Hiring Assessments
I can’t stress enough the importance of using hiring assessments BEFORE you engage any applicants. Don’t waste your time, money and energy on anyone before they’ve taken the time and shown you that they’re actually interested in the position. Companies like ClearFit provide employers with the opportunity to receive FREE personal hiring and employee development reports. The science and monotony of hiring has been automated and made extremely efficient. It would be foolish for you not to take advantage of these tools to find employees that “fit” your company.

For more information and tips on how to hire effectively and uncover people’s true work potential, contact the experts at ClearFit today! Call us today at 1(877) 789-8767 or visit our site to set up your FREE employer profile and start using our reports immediately.

Employee Tests - Where do I start?

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

ClearFit's Candidate Hiring and Development Guides

Many people have expressed an interest in applicant testing when hiring a candidate for their business. Makes sense, why wouldn’t you? The problem is, where do you start, who do you test and what do you do with the information you get?

If you’re reading this and feel the same, don’t worry… we’re here to help.

Where do I get employee tests?
Start with the easiest and most obvious - online. In fact, when you type “employee test” in Google, you’ll get 18 million page results, in 0.26 seconds! Wow. Don’t get overwhelmed. Before you start sifting through the thousands of companies offering all kinds of tests, be sure that you’re looking at a reputable company with a proven track record and evidence of results. In fact, the most accurate and best tests out there are ones based on psychometric analysis such as ClearFit provides. In a day and age where you can get a PhD by answering your spam email (along with various other anatomy enhancement… sorry, can’t help you with that) - make sure you get a good and accurate idea of whether that great-sounding applicant is actually a fit for your company and the position you’re hiring for.

Who do you assess?
Everyone, silly! The assessment is designed to save you time, because an accurate and scientific assessment should give you a quick snapshot of who is interview worthy and more importantly whose not! Therefore, using a good employee assessment test will save you lot’s of time and effort at the front end. Since most tests, and those that you should use, are online - they provide a user-friendly experience which can only be a good thing when you’re looking to get an accurate idea of who fits and who doesn’t. It’s 2009 - paper assessments are a thing of the past!

I’ve got the info, now what?
Well hopefully, before you started this whole process, you had an idea of what you’re looking for. Now, that you have all the information at your disposal, its time to act. Using a service such as the one that ClearFit provides, you are able to see right away which of your candidates match, do not match and who lied! In fact, you’ll be able to do much more!

Fore more information on employee and candidate testing, visit ClearFit or call 1(877) 789-8767.


Top 10 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Employees

Monday, May 4th, 2009

1. Understand that Each Employee is Different

Although it may be easy to paint all employees with the same brush, it is very important to realize that every individual is unique. Rather than thinking of your employees as a single, homogeneous work force, ensure that you realize the diversity of your employees and the potential inherent in that diversity. Realizing that your employees have different needs, requirements and expectations is the first step to realizing their full potential.

2. Manage Your Expectations

Perhaps your employee isn’t the problem – maybe it’s you! It is important for any employer to lay out specific expectations and benchmarks ahead of the game. Sitting down and drawing up a plan of action and expectations is a very useful exercise that will make sure that not only your employee stays on track, but that you do as well.

3. Manage Your Employee’s Expectations

Along with managing your own expectations as an employer, you must also manage your employee’s expectations. Transparency and open honest communications between employer and employee will ensure that you are both on the same wavelength and avoid any confusion about expectations and responsibilities.

4. Utilize Development Resources

Don’t be afraid to reach out and utilize some of the many development resources that exist out there. You have a range of options available to you to aid you in the process of getting the most out of your employees. While some of those options can be pricey, there are good tools you can use that are easily accessible and won’t break the bank. Other ideas include pairing up employees with mentors, creating coaching plans, joining professional networks and inviting industry experts to coach and work with your employees.

5. Provide a Challenging Environment

Put yourself in the shoes of your employees - if you were placed in an unchallenging and monotonous environment, chances are you wouldn’t like it either. Instead, ensure that you provide a challenging and dynamic work environment that fosters creativity and excitement.

Check back tomorrow for number 6 through 10!

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