Evidence-Based Hiring
The goal when hiring is to always select the right people—those who have the potential to become top performers.
Evidence-based hiring is the tool to make this possible.
Managers and supervisors can apply the techniques used by the detectives of fiction, film and TV to find the right people to hire. The “holy trinity” that guides detectives who investigate and solve murders can be applied when hiring:
Means – Education and training requirements. Examine resumés for clues that they have the necessary prerequisites.
Motive – Why individuals do what they do. Interviews and reference checks are opportunities to discover if candidates’ values align with those of your organization. How have their values influenced workplace decisions and performance?
Opportunity – The candidates’ experience. Have they done the right things in the right way? Candidates’ previous on-the-job performance is the best predictor of how they will perform in the future.
Is there evidence that a candidate’s previous on-the-job performance has been guided by values that align with those of your organization? Have they performed in the past as you would want them to perform in the future?
During interviews, focus on learning what the candidate has done in previous work situations, not what they think they will do if hired. Avoid asking candidate what-would-you-do-if questions. Use reference checks to learn about candidates’ on-the-job performance and not to listen to their opinions about them as people.
If candidates have not performed tasks similar to what you will expect them to do, you have no basis on which to predict how they will perform if hired.
Only hire people who provide evidence of having performed as you would expect your top performers to perform.
When preparing to interview, think about your top performers—the people you wish you could clone. What makes them successful?”
Use this information to develop criteria to assess applicants. Base hiring decisions on these well-defined criteria, not on your “gut feelings,” or others say.
You Ask… I'll Answer
Do you have a question about staff recognition or any aspect of interviewing and hiring? Click the button below to send me your question and I will answer it in a future issue of Briefly Noted.