10 Proven Ways to Speed Up Your Hiring Process
Recruiting the right people as fast as possible is now more important than ever for businesses. If you’re looking to fill a temporary position or a permanent one, it will cost you time, money, and productivity if the process is delayed. However, hastening the process is likely to result in poor hires and this comes with its own problems.
Here at Recruitment Direct UK (RDUK), we have helped businesses, big or small, to enhance the speed and quality of their hiring process. In this article, we’re going to share with you 10 effective ways to speed up your recruitment process but still get reliable, job-ready candidates.
1.Begin with a clear job description
The first thing to do in order to hire faster is writing a clear and detailed job description. When the role is clear, you get more appropriate applications and less time weeding out unqualified applicants.
Specify particular duties, necessary abilities, place, hours, and type of contract. If you are not sure, discuss the details with your recruiter and polish them before posting.
2.Use a Recruitment Agency that has a Pre-Screened Pool of Candidates
By using an agency such as RDUK, you are able to have access to candidates that have already been interviewed, vetted and compliance checked. This is time savings of days, even weeks in your schedule.
Agencies who specialize in your industry will already know who’s available, who’s looking, and who fits the kind of role you’re hiring for.
3.Reduce Application and Interview process
If your application process involves several steps, forms, and lengthy periods of time between the interviews, you will probably lose candidates in the process.
Examine your process and eliminate redundancies. Wherever possible, combine stages (e.g. screening call + interview) and give candidates clear timelines from the outset.
4.Reduce the number of rounds of interviews
Although it is necessary to interview a candidate and make sure that he/she is a good fit, too many interviews slow the hiring process. Make it no more than one or two stages, and especially for temporary or mid-level positions.
A typical example is one phone screen and one face to face or video interview for most position.
5.Be Ready to Interview Quickly
One of the greatest delays in hiring process is the delays in scheduling interviews. Before publishing a job, reserve interview times in your calendar so when good candidates come in you are ready to act fast.
If possible, delegate a person in your team to do shortlisting and scheduling to avoid anything being left behind.
6.Make Feedback and Decisions Faster
After every interview, take not more than 24–48 hours to make a decision. Candidates usually have other opportunities waiting for them. A prompt reply indicates that you are serious and consider their time.
In case you are stuck between two candidates, consult your recruiter. They can give you insights from their own screening and conversations with candidates to make a decision.
7.Prepare Offer Details in Advance
When it is time for you to make an offer, having the key terms agreed internally will save time. Know the salary range, start date, contract type and main conditions in advance, so that you can act quickly once you find the right person.
This avoids last minute delays and lets the candidate know that you are organized and ready.
8.Trust Your Recruitment Partner’s Judgment
If you are working with a recruitment agency, let them take you through. Seasoned recruiters may be in a position to determine those candidates who will succeed from similar placements and feedback.
Requesting for a huge number of CVs or having numerous internal reviews can slow things down and even lose your best candidates.
9.Employ Technology to Accelerate Things up
Small changes can lead to big changes. The use of online tools such as digital contracts, video interview or automated reference checks can save hours or even days.
Many agencies (such as RDUK) are already using these tools to make sure that compliance is maintained without making things inefficient.
10.Have a Backup Plan
At times, your preferred candidate backs out at the last minute. Always have a Plan B at the back of your mind or ask your recruiter to keep the shortlist warm as you await the first offer.
This eliminates the need to begin the process from the beginning, particularly in urgent or short-notice roles.
Final Thoughts
Accelerating your hiring process does not mean getting things done fast and cutting corners. It means pre-planning, selecting the right recruitment partner and being responsive at all levels.
At RDUK, we specialize in the provision of fast, compliant, and dependable staffing solutions in construction, logistics, healthcare, education, hospitality, and so on. Our consultants know the value of both speed and quality — and we are here for you when you need us for your hiring needs.
If you’d like to talk to one of our consultants regarding your current recruitment needs, contact us today.