Optimizing Interviews for Staffing Companies

Interviews at staffing companies are a completely different ball game. You are the middle man that stands between a company image, and its potential employees. Relationships are being built on both ends. When you are working with busy clients who need you to do the hard work for them, you have to be on top of your game. Finding candidates who will best suit the needs of your client is vital. With that being said, you must be able to conduct the most effective interviews. Check out these interview tips for staffing companies to make the whole process run smoothly.

5 Steps to Becoming a Better Interviewer:

 

Be Willing to Go Off the Beaten Path:

You may have a set list of questions that you ask every potential employee, which is great to have ahead of time. Although, never be afraid to get away from that. Sometimes a candidate will answer a question of yours that will then prompt a new question that you just thought of. If it will in the end help you decide if they are good fit, absolutely ask it. Going in a different direction than what is on your agenda sometimes turns out to be a better route.

Be Welcoming:

No matter what way you look at it, interviews are nerve wracking. Creating a welcoming environment is a way to cool down the tension. If you jump right into the tough questions with a candidate, they will most likely freeze up on their answers and set the precedent for the rest of the interview. Small talk, as generic as it may seem, can help relax e a candidate into feeling more comfortable. This will then ease both you and the candidate into engaging in thoughtful conversation. This plays an important role to staffing agencies who are relying on finding the best person for the job to please their clients.

Take Notes:

Taking notes not only makes the candidate feel like you are truly listening to them, it helps you remember what they said in that interview. It is also suggested to mark something that stood out about the candidate, just so you can remember who is who. Staffing companies are constantly conducting back to back interviews, being organized is key. When it finally comes done to choosing the best candidates, having notes will make the process much easier.

Be Clear:

Once you sit down with the candidate, you need to be 100% clear on what the position is for. This marks a clear line of what will be expected of the candidate. This will save you and the interviewees a vast amount of time. Your clients will also benefit from this as there will be no confusion on their end once they meet with the potential employees. Remember you are interviewing through the eyes of the client as a staffing company.

Sell the Company you are Supporting:

As a staffing agency, you need to act as if you work at your client’s company yourself. Tell the client some things about the company they are applying with that may stand out from others. Talk about the company dynamic and culture that might strike a chord with the candidate. Showing your client’s company in a positive light will be appreciated by your client and help you find the best candidate for them in the long run. Ask your candidate what they are looking for in a company, what excites them, and what they didn’t like about their previous workplace. Their answers will also help you gauge whether they will be a good fit for your client.

Staffing is a fast moving industry. In order to conduct these perfect interviews, you need a great team. Free up some working capital for your staffing agency through invoice factoring. Factor Finders will partner you with dedicated factoring companies who will increase your capital so you can provide the best services to your clients.