The Pink Panther movies’ lead role was that of Inspector Clouseau, a bumbling detective whose investigations were filled with chaos and destruction. Surprisingly, Inspector Clouseau had excellent results, obtained purely by accident. When you’re adding staff, are you successful despite risky hiring practices? Let’s see if you’re more like Inspector Clouseau or the FBI.
Clue #1--If you asked for a cover letter, resume and references, was everything included? Did they arrive by the deadline stated in your advertising? A poor response to your requests now is likely the kind of response you would get, were you to hire the individual.
Clue #2--Do you pay attention to details? Are all documents well-prepared with no typographical errors? Ensure that all of the details have been addressed. Carelessness here is likely to translate to carelessness on the job.
Clue #3--Are there gaps in employment? Any gaps in employment should be addressed in a phone screen with the candidate. Does the candidate use complete dates or only years? The larger the time span, the easier it is to cover up gaps in employment.
Clue #4--How well does the person’s previous employment compare to the job you are filling? Look for evidence that the duties of previous positions have prepared the candidate to fulfill the role you have in mind.
Clue #5--Has there been career progression? Is the job you’re filling a step up, a lateral move or a step down from where the candidate has most recently worked? Be sure to address any concerns if everything else looks good.
Clue #6--Do the candidate’s knowledge, skills and abilities closely match the job description? A current job description should be prepared prior to filling any position. To be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the job description must include Essential Functions, or fundamental job duties of the position, as well as any Marginal Functions.
If you’re already doing each of the items listed above, congratulations! You are more like the FBI than Inspector Clouseau. Conversely, if you’re missing some of the steps, begin adding them now to obtain improved and more consistent results.
Footnote: Inspector Clouseau is a fictional French police detective in Blake Edward’s The Pink Panther series.
Blog Authored by: Jeanne Hines, SPHR