I’m a perfect fit, why didn’t I get the job?

Recruitment from the company point of view

By Jenny Kahn, PHRBy Jenny Kahn, PHRSenior Technical RecruiterSenior Technical RecruiterJennykahnphr@gmail.comCopyright Jenny Kahn, PHRCopyright Jenny Kahn, PHR

Objectives

• Understand what companies look for• Understand the hiring process• Why candidates get eliminated• Steps you can take to improve your odds

What employers look for

The Hiring Process

It starts with the Requisition…The “Req” is a finance document that ensures that salary will be set aside for a new employee. Sometimes referred to as “ new head count” or “ increase in compliment”.

A hiring manager may want/need an addition to staff, but there is no real position until the Req has made it’s way through the signature chain!

How a Req. is created

The hiring manager completes a company requisition request form which describes the need for the new position and what experience, knowledge, skills and abilities are desired for the proposed position.

The signature chain often includes:

• Next level(s) of management for the department requesting the position

• HR will confirm that the position level and suggested pay are in line with employees of similar background

• Once this position is approved; the recruiting process can officially begin

Who manages the process?

Depending on the size of the company and its funding, the process can be driven by:

• The Hiring Manager• A HR Generalist/Business Partner• A In-house Recruiter

Source, Screen and InterviewAnd now the process comes even more fuzzy as

more variable are added to the mix…

The Sourcing, Screening and Interviewing steps must happen but who does it and how it is done varies not only by company, or division, or even by manager but sometimes even based on the position.

The Interviewing Process

The interview team is usually the hiring manager, subject matter experts, representatives from other department who the candidate will have to work with as well as HR

The level of the position usually dictates how many interviews are required. The higher the level the more interviews

And the Oscar goes to…

Who makes the hiring decision depends on the organization and its culture but usually the decision is made by the hiring manager with varying levels influence from the interview team

Reasons why you might not have been considered?

Job Description Mismatch

• The Req. did not accurately describe the needed skills

• The level of the position changed since posting

• Through the interviewing process new desired skills are identified but the posting is not changed

• The job description was too vague to accurately judge proper fit

Screening Mistakes

• You were not able to convince the screener that you were both truly interested in the position and belong within the “Best Fit” subgroup

• The screener was not properly qualified/informed to screen candidates and eliminated possible “Best Fit” candidates

The Interview

• Failed in building rapport• Simply did not interview well• Sold yourself to old posted job description

and did not realize the position changed• You may be qualified and thus brought in

but not the seen as the “Best Fit” candidate

What steps you can take to improve your odds?

Network, Network, NetworkUse your contacts to:

• Get your resume to the right people• Get the inside story on department needs• Find someone who will champion your

cause

Confirm your information

• At each stage check to make sure the requirements of the position have not changed

• Ask good probing questions to uncover the problems and concerns this position would be responsible to solve. “You only sell what the customer wants”

• State your interest in the position and did the interviewer have any concerns that would keep you from moving forward. Address any concerns brought up

Things to keep in mind…

• Make sure you can clearly and concisely articulate your value and what you can bring to the organization

• Make sure you listen to the question being asked

• Keep your answers short and to the point• Stay positive, and remember you should not

expected to hit a homerun every time at bat