Job Ad.

Truthfully written — nobody cares if you need a self starter who can work as part of a team. That stuff is a no brainer, most people are that, what is it you really want from the person; here’s what I want to hear; what kind of people work for you, what kind of culture do you want to encourage, what exactly is the job. Like…exactly.

If it’s a job cleaning toilets, say that. People who want to clean toilets will apply for the job, people who don’t. Won’t.

This will save you wading through piles of applications that aren’t relevant because people have misconstrued your elaborately written ad.

Be clear.

What the flip is a stakeholder anyway?

Applications & Dedicated Hirer

With your clearly written ad you’ll receive predominantly relevant applications, making it easier for you to filter.

You’ll have hired someone, or designated a current employee to look after this project. They’ll dedicate their time to understand what is required for the position and who you are ultimately looking for.

All CVs will receive the attention they deserve, people who aren’t appropriate are informed, as individually as is possible. There’s nothing worse than receiving an automated response with the incorrect name on it. Personalise (as much as is humanly* possible).

*Take note of the word human here, more on that later.

Meet Up & Chat (formally known as ‘Interview’)

You’ll contact the list of yays, and invite them somewhere for a chat. Preferably somewhere neutral. Remember, they’re feeling nervous and you might not get the best of them if they feel threatened or intimidated and if the job itself doesn’t require them to overcome these things there’s no need to make them feel that way.

Talk with them, not at them. Be interested in them as people, ask them questions that’ll help you understand how they’ll perform as employees, whether they can do the job. As far as the questions go, they’re up to you as the Dedicated Hirer to come up with, to get the answers you really need.

And what can you give to them? It’s a two way street — be honest and clear about the company, the ethics, the people. After all, that’s what makes the company. The humans.

Finding out where they see themselves in 5 years is a useless waste of time. Who knows and who really cares.