I don’t know about you, but when I arrive at my doctor’s office on time for an appointment, I am greeted (if you want to call it that) by a receptionist who would rather be a nurse who asks me to fill out an intake form that could have been emailed to me in advance of the appointment, The form requires certain basic and obvious information which, upon completion, I am asked to return to her (and it is generally a “her”).
From there I wait.
I am not asked to wait or asked if I CAN wait. I am left alone to wait and read magazines that are often 6 months old. The wait can take a minute or an hour.
How different is that from the experience that is offered to job hunters who come to human resources at your organization?
How does a receptionist “receive someone” That is what they are there for, right? To be the receptor for an organization receiving someone, right?
Do you email applications to applicants or make them complete the form in person?
Subconsciously, do you judge their handwriting?
How old are your magazines?
Is someone invited to have a beverage?
How long are they kept to wait by you? Is you receptionist overwhelmed and thus delays occur between the applicant being ready to meet you and when they actually are caused by their being expected to answer phones which delays notification of someone’s arrival.
Once a week, I receive a call from a client who is asking where my candidate is only to later discover that the delay was caused by the receptionist or security not letting them know someone is waiting for them.
And what is the message that you are sending with this “process”? I’ll tell you. Once you join, you will become the third drone on the left in a cubicle and become Dilbert.
How different would it for someone to receive the application by email so that they can complete it online, print it out and sign it and bring it with them to the interview.
How does someone feel if they are greeted by someone with a huge smile or who apologizes to them for not taking time to chat with them but that they have a project to do for someone? How about this week’s magazines and today’s newspapers or a short video about the firm and opportunities within it featuring the CIO, CEO, CFO or other leaders who make it inviting to join.
How do you think someone feels when they are greeted on time?
The process most organizations have for receiving someone is cold and impersonal. You can change it and make your one that helps to make your process a hiring magnet.
Jeff Altman
The Big Game Hunter
Concepts in Staffing
thebiggamehunter@cisny.com
© 2007 all rights reserved.
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter, is Managing Director with Concepts in Staffing, a New York search firm, He has successfully assisted many corporations identify management leaders and staff in many disciplines since 1971. He is a certified leader of the ManKind Project, a not for profit organization that assists men with life issues, and a practicing psychotherapist.
To receive a daily digest of positions emailed to you, search for openings that The Big Game Hunter is working on, to use Jeff’s free job lead search engine, Job Search Universe, to subscribe to Jeff’s free job hunting ezine, “Head Hunt Your Next Job, or his staffing ezine, “Natural Selection”, or to learn about his VIP program, go to www.jeffaltman.com. Job Search Universe is also available at www.jobsearchuniverse.com To add your firm’s career page to “The Universe” email the url to jobsearchuniverse@gmail.com.
If you would like Jeff and his firm to assist you with hiring staff, or if you would like help with a strategic job change, send an email to him at thebiggamehunter@cisny.com (If you’re looking for a new position, include your resume).
If you have a question that you would like me to answer pertaining to job hunting or hiring, email it to me at:
thebiggamehunter@gmail.com
