Whether it’s for a place at a top-tier institution, a job at your local convenience store, or even being grilled by your significant other’s parents—everyone knows how nerve wracking interviews can be. It’s likely we will all be on that side of the table at least once in our life, but what about when we find ourselves sitting in the interviewer chair? 

Although it might seem like the interviewer is always in the power position, there are plenty of ways hiring managers can go wrong when recruiting new workers. There are potential pitfalls in every step of the hiring process, and hiring managers can truly make or break the strength and productivity of a company’s workforce. In fact, research shows that “66% of job applicants accepted a job offer because of a positive candidate experience.” 

Hiring managers have a lot of power, yes, but they also carry a pretty big burden. A business is only as good as its workforce, meaning it’s only as good as its hiring manager. But considering how time-consuming and stressful the hiring process is these days, it’s understandable that hiring managers are always at their best. The list of hiring tasks can feel never-ending at times, which is why many hiring managers decide to reach out to a third party (such as recruiting firms) for help. This is a great first step, but while you’re shopping around for the right recruitment services/firm, here are some other helpful tips for anyone new to the world of hiring. 

Tips for New Hiring Managers

When candidates have bad experience at some point in the hiring process, they tend to walk away from the opportunity entirely. Recruiters, therefore, cannot take their job lightly. They need to be putting their best foot forward and working just as hard as the applicants are.

Remember, you both want something out of the process. The applicant wants a job, and you (the recruiter) want to fill the position. 

The expectation to impress goes both ways. 

But don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it might sound. Just review these strategic hiring tips and let us guide you through the basics of building a more successful team. 

1. Speak to Previous Employee/Current Team Members 

Before you even begin curating the perfect job description or looking for new talent, have a thoughtful and open discussion with the person who previously held the position and/or the team members who will be working directly with the new hire. These individuals are going to have some of the best insights into who you should be looking for and what are the most effective hiring practices in association with this specific job. 

Speaking of curating the perfect job post—this step may seem straightforward but it’s actually quite difficult to boil down all the important information into bite-sized descriptions. That said, it’s vital that your post be high-quality, since research shows that more than half of job seekers report that the quality of a job post will influence their decision to apply. This is one of the many things that a professional recruitment firm can help you with—that way you ensure that you’re appealing to the best candidates right from the start. 

2. Ask Every Applicant the Same Interview Questions 

This recruitment tip might seem a little confusing at first, since every candidate is going to be a little different. We’re not suggesting that you only ask the same questions, but that you should have a list of the most important inquiries which you have every applicant respond to. These questions should be relevant, straightforward, and never trick questions. One study found “more than half (53%) of candidates encounter misleading hiring practices,” throughout the process and it is generally not appreciated. 

This should help you streamline the interview process, which is very important given the tediousness of hiring these days combined with the eagerness of applicants. It’s estimated that 84% of candidates will schedule their interview within just 24-hours of receiving the invite. Depending on how many people you are interviewing, just making time in everyone’s schedule can be a challenge, but recruitment firms like CyberCoders will take care of all those details for you. 

3. Discuss the Hiring Process So Far

There are many places where recruiters can look for managerial advice, and new hires are valuable resources when it comes to bettering yourself as a hiring manager. Impressing job applicants is a core feature of a hiring manager's job, and yet many employers only inquire into candidate experience after an applicant has been hired—don’t make the same mistake.

4. Work to Reduce Hiring Bias 

Recent studies have found that nearly 40% of open positions exclusively invite male applicants in for interviews. This is just one of many disheartening hiring discrimination statistics that demonstrate how prevalent bais (conscious or unconscious) still is in recruitment. This means one of the most important tips we have for new hiring managers is to do whatever you can to eliminate bias at any and all times possible. 

If you’re unsure how best to reduce bias, you should know that CyberCoders sources candidates from an inclusive database which represents the best talent available to meet the needs of all our clients. 

5. Clearly Define Job Expectations and Onboarding Process

It doesn’t matter how impressive your list of candidates is or how well you conduct an interview—if the person you’re recruiting isn’t able to meet job expectations, hiring them is a mistake. Furthermore, you’ll want to make sure you properly explain the company’s process for onboarding new hires, that way recruits know what to expect. This will pay off in the long-run, considering that “employees whose managers clearly communicated their roles and responsibilities were 23% more likely to stay with the organization.” 

6. Ask Why They Want to Join the Team

According to one study, workers who are “highly satisfied” with their jobs are far less likely to leave their current employer. While it’s very possible that applicants may lie or exaggerate their excitement to work for your company, if you can discern which candidates possess true passion for the job/industry, that will result in a much better hire. 

Final Thoughts

This list of tips for new hiring managers is meant to help recruiters understand some of the most important aspects of their job and grasp just how much responsibility is involved. We truly believe that the implementation of these strategic hiring tips will benefit recruiters, applicants, and workforces at large. 

That said, we also know you might’ve read through this list and realized just how much your current recruitment staff is lacking. Or perhaps you are wondering if you’ve got the time to properly recruit the best of the best. If this is what it takes to be an impressive, effective, and progressive hiring manager, is it possible you’d be better off handing the reins over to the professionals? After all, research from 2024 found that 60% of companies were seeing an increase in their time-to-hire. 
All the helpful tips in the world cannot magically give you more hours in the day. What you can do, however, is use these tips to recruit a recruiter. Or several. At CyberCoders, experts are available and eager to help you find the best new hires in a fraction of the time. Go to our website to see a list of our services and start hiring the right people today!