There’s a lot more to hiring than many realize. It’s not just putting up a job posting and interviewing candidates. That’s part of it, of course, but planning a strategic hiring process can make a world of difference in terms of the timeline, efficiency and attracting great candidates. If you’re an employer looking to enhance your hiring process, here are some valuable insights to ensure a successful round of interviews: 

• Strategic Planning: Most employers define key competencies & skills, experience, and traits for your ideal candidate. However, too often little focus is given to prioritizing between requirements and “Nice to Haves”. Consider whether your criteria is realistic for what is being offered to candidates. 
• Define your Pitch: Remember you are competing for the best candidates against other top companies. Why should someone choose your company? Although compensation is a top consideration it isn’t the only one. What are you offering in terms of culture, benefits, experience, growth, and work-life balance? How are you going to weave this into the hiring process? Setting up a coffee with other members of the team at a similar level can go a long way.  
• Interview Planning: Avoid redundant interviews. Craft a purposeful and integrated interview plan that doesn’t repeat questions across multiple rounds. Each interview should serve a distinct purpose to cover all crucial hiring considerations. Be thoughtful about who is involved at each stage to minimize adding unnecessary interview steps and prolonging the process.  
• Time Matters: Did you know a top reason for losing candidates is prolonged timelines? Consider the commitment up front and set aside some time that your team’s schedules. Efficiently manage time between interviews to keep candidates engaged and interested. 
• Transparency: Share critical information about the organization, team, culture, and strategy as well as the role and compensation. This doesn’t all need to happen in the first round but also shouldn’t be left until the last. This approach fosters trust, creates alignment and improves the efficiency of the process. Otherwise, you risk someone resigning after a few months on the job, which in our view is the worst possible outcome for everyone.  

An effective hiring process not only identifies and attracts talent but also reflects positively on your organization.