Many companies look at the interview as the way to assess whether or not a candidate is a good fit for the business. While true, it is hardly the full picture. Many candidates today, especially top talent, have options of where to take their services. The interview is equally important in selling your business to candidates as the best opportunity to achieve their long term goals. Use the following best practices during your interview process to properly position your business as an ideal destination for top talent.
1. Make it Sexy
Top performers need to be excited about the opportunity. Their excitement will feed off of your excitement. During the interview, maintain a positive and upbeat demeanor, and share how they will impact the business and make a difference. Top performers also love a challenge and the opportunity to make a difference – so emphasize how their skills will make a huge contribution to your business. Finally, highlight the positive aspects of the company culture and why working for you would be the best alternative. Top talent has options – make sure they want you.
2. Use an Efficient Hiring Process
Make sure that the interview process and the speed in which you move is indicative of the quality and behavior you expect from the candidate. Top candidates want to see decisive behavior and strong communications. Great salespeople, specifically, like to make things happen and want to work for a company behaves in the same fashion. Keep the process moving and provide feedback within a day or two after completing each step. Taking multiple weeks to make decisions doesn’t work in today’s hyperconnected workplace. If you aren’t moving fast, your competitors just might be!
3. Emphasize the Support Systems
Even though top sales candidates are extremely talented, most are still looking for a supportive environment and the proper tools to make selling more productive. Let the candidate know about the training process and how you will prepare them to be successful for your organization. Outline how the the sales leader will be involved and working in tandem to get things done. Talking to a candidate about mentorship and coaching will show them that you’re interested in seeing them succeed and have a future at your company.
After reading this article, how do your behaviors during an interview compare? Top sales talent is evaluating you during the interview process and doing and saying the right things are key. Adding these three behaviors to your interview process can help you win over and hire more candidates.
