Thursday, March 13, 2025

5 Outdated Hiring Practices You Must Cease Doing Now


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their very own.

Expertise has come a good distance. As an alternative of candidates displaying up in particular person in your workplace, they ship their resumes by way of e mail. As an alternative of searching for jobs in newspaper advertisements, persons are most probably to examine job platforms.

Many hiring and utility methods have modified on this digital and data-driven world. Some are even nonexistent, like faxing your resumes. Nevertheless, there are some outdated strategies that individuals nonetheless use to this present day, even once they do not make any sense.

Listed here are some old-school hiring methods that you must cease doing now.

1. Requesting cowl letters

The aim of cowl letters is for candidates to introduce themselves to the hiring supervisor. On this data age, a fast Google search or a fast view of somebody’s LinkedIn profile can let you know simply as a lot as a canopy letter.

These days, solely 38% of candidates submit a canopy letter, even when the job put up requires it — and that quantity will proceed to go down. If you happen to make the quilt letter part required in your net type, then a number of potential candidates will in all probability simply select to not apply and shut the window. And with the arrival of ChatGPT, most cowl letters is not going to even precisely mirror candidates’ personal personalities and writing types.

As an alternative of counting on cowl letters, think about extra fashionable methods to evaluate your candidate’s character and expertise, resembling introductory video submissions, expertise assessments or a easy reply to a query related to the place.

Associated: AI Is Altering How Companies Recruit for Open Roles — and How Candidates Are Gaming the System

2. Asking for a resume when you’ve an online type

Do not make it arduous on your candidates and have redundant levels in your hiring course of. Having a lengthier course of may make the method extra complicated and uninviting, resulting in extra obstacles on your candidates.

Though having an online type could make it simpler so that you can parse data to your ATS when resumes have totally different codecs, advocate for a less complicated course of — candidates will thanks for it. If you happen to want a selected format or data in your applicant’s resume to allow them to be learn by your ATS extra simply, then point out that in your job put up.

If only some adopted your directions, then nice. You solely want these sorts of candidates anyway.

3. Having greater than three rounds of interviews

If you happen to weren’t impressed sufficient or did not study sufficient about an applicant in the course of the first or second interview, perhaps you are simply unhealthy at interviewing. When organising your interview course of, be certain that it is streamlined — which means every stage ought to have particular targets.

Earlier than any interviews, you may ship a check to shortlisted candidates to evaluate their problem-solving potential, expertise and primary {qualifications}. Then, the primary interview can concentrate on cultural match, work expertise and expectations.

The following interview, if essential, may be reserved for last decision-making. When you’ve got different interview levels after that, then be certain that they don’t seem to be redundant… however why would you?

4. Caring about years of expertise as an alternative of precise expertise

About 20 years in the past, skilled potential was assessed based mostly on their job title and linear strikes up the company ladder. Now, skilled potential is assessed based mostly on their unique concepts and precise work that may be seen on-line.

The character of labor itself has modified following the rise of digital platforms, the gig economic system and extra. With as we speak’s skills-first strategy to hiring, portfolios, case research and even social media presence can inform a greater story than a candidate’s resume.

On my job platform, OysterLink, I’ve seen many lodge managers begin out with out expertise and work their approach up by constructing their expertise with hands-on studying. With the altering workforce dynamic, you are higher off specializing in individuals’s ability units and potential fairly than the size of their resumes.

Associated: Why Prioritizing Delicate Expertise in Hiring is Essential to the Fashionable Office

5. Providing one-size-fits-all advantages

Solely a set of versatile advantages can work for a contemporary, numerous workforce. You might be hiring for a place that will in all probability appeal to candidates of all ages at totally different levels of their lives. Due to this, a one-size-fits-all strategy could not … match all.

Youthful workers could be searching for scholar mortgage help or skilled growth packages. These with kids may concentrate on getting medical health insurance plans, whereas others planning for the long run may prioritize retirement contributions or financial savings packages.

You wish to make your workers really feel protected and safe of their firm — sufficient that they suppose that your organization truly cares. And if you care, they’re extra prone to care about their work.

By enhancing your hiring practices, you additionally enhance the standard of your candidates and new hires. You would be extra prone to rent expertise with not simply the talents however the mindset you are searching for. With a contemporary, streamlined course of, you may scale back turnover, save time, adapt and construct a group that may develop with your corporation.

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