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Choosing the best candidate for the job

Published on: 12 Nov 2015

There is much more involved in the recruitment process other than just going through CVs and conducting interviews. In fact, it can be a daunting task due to the large amount of CVs that are received on any given day. 

CVs can tell a recruiter a lot

CVs are thoroughly reviewed to decide whether or not a candidate has the right amount of education, skills and experience. For experienced recruiters, a quick look at a CV can tell a lot about the candidate. For instance, if a recruiter sees a CV full of misspelled words, then chances are good that the candidate will not be contacted further because this shows a lack of attention to detail.

It’s not just about the interview

Any experienced recruiter knows that interviews aren’t just about asking the same standard questions. While these questions are important, a good recruiter will take the time to ask specific questions relating to the open position. In addition, the following items are also essential when choosing the best candidate:

  • What is the candidate’s body language?

One can tell a lot by body language. For example, recruiters look for a candidate who has a positive demeanor and makes eye contact.

 

  • Are they passionate about their career?

If a candidate is enthusiastic about the open position, it lets the recruiter know that they are more than likely open to new challenges and eager to learn.

 

  • Does the candidate’s values align with the organisation?

Recruiters are looking for candidates who are trustworthy and honest.

It’s not just about the experience

Even though past work experience is definitely one of the main things a recruiter looks at, it isn’t necessarily the most important. In order for the candidate to be successful within an organisation, they must be a good fit culturally. The reason for this is simple: if the candidate won’t work well with the current team already in place, or if their values don’t align with the organisation, then the placement is not a good fit. Searching for a candidate who is a good cultural fit is the main key to a successful placement.

Trust your instinct

When more than one great candidate has been found, it can be hard to make a decision. Any experienced recruiter will tell you that a large part of the recruitment process is based on being able to trust your instinct.

Experienced recruiters use many things in order to choose the best candidate for the job. It’s important that they focus on all of the items discussed above before offering a job to a candidate. The competition can be fierce, so recruiters must be able to sort through all the candidates to find the right person for not only the position, but the cultural aspect as well.