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Traditional job descriptions don’t attract top talent

Dec. 4, 2012 — A recent research study identified the 10 biggest mistakes companies make when hiring. The number one  mistake was rather surprising and one rarely even considered by most companies. Yet this one mistake impacts the whole hiring process, including how candidates are sourced, where to find candidates, compensation, performance management, advertising, position title and what questions should be asked during the interview.

Everything seems to go sideways all because most companies fail to properly define the real job.

There are two reasons why traditional job descriptions are ineffective as a hiring tool. The first reason is traditional job descriptions describe the minimum qualifications required for the position such as the minimum duties, tasks and responsibilities. Add to that the minimum education required, minimal years of experience, and minimal skills, plus the endless list of behavioral traits: team player, a good communicator, self-motivated and big thinker.  Most job descriptions describe the least qualified person, not the real job.  This often leads to hiring the least qualified. The harsh reality is, when you define a job in mediocre terms, odds are you will attract and hire mediocre candidates.

The second reason is traditional job descriptions fail to focus on what defines success in this role. If you want to hire successful people, start by defining success, instead of the person. Most people would agree that a person who simply performs the duties and responsibilities outlined in traditional job descriptions would rarely be considered a success. In fact, most candidates would not last long in a company that is growing and outpacing the competition. Just because the person has the experience listed doesn't mean they can deliver the desired results. Here's the misnomer: past experiences are a good indicator of future performance. Past experience is actually a poor indicator of performance. Past performance is a better indicator, but the best indicator is their ability to deliver results in your company. After all, you are hiring for your company with your culture, your resources, your systems, your budget, your management style and your company’s values, not for what they did at a past company.

For example, how many times have you heard someone say: "We're looking for a vice-president of operations" The reply is, "What are you looking for?" The typical answer is usually, "We need a person with 10 years experience, five years in our industry, team leader, strategic thinker, good communications and an MBA is preferred." This is all about the person and nothing about what defines success in the role or what the person is expected to deliver once they come on board. It is naturally assumed if the person has the experience mentioned, they can deliver the expected results. It is our contention that experience has nothing to do with delivering results. Just because the person was a great vice-president of operations at their last company, doesn't mean they are the right vice-president of operations for your company.

Instead of using the traditional job description, consider defining success in the role. Do this by creating a list of success factors. Success factors are simply the results you want this person to deliver, in order for you, the hiring manager, to consider this person a successful hire.
Take the example of a vice-president of operations. Success factors would define exactly what the VP needs to deliver, usually within the next 12 to 18 months to be considered an outstanding hire.

For example, the success factors would read:

• Within the first 30 days, develop a plan of action that will improve on time deliveries from 85 per cent to 96 per cent and present the plan to the CEO.
• Within six months, develop and begin implementing a vendor qualifications program that will insure zero defects and 100 per cent on-time deliveries from vendors.
• Within nine months consolidate the operations of two plants and produce a cost savings of at least 15 per cent.

Continue developing these success factors until there are five or six which clearly define what is expected of the candidate once they come on board.

Now when asked the question "What are you looking for?" The answer is, "We need someone who can improve on time deliveries to 96 per cent, can implement a vendor qualifications program and consolidate operations with at least a 15 per cent cost savings." Instead of defining experience, start defining success in this role.

Now, find a person that can accomplish these success factors. When that happens, this person will have the right experience. It might be five years of experience, it could be ten years of experience; it really doesn’t matter, as long as they can deliver the results.

Using the success factors as a hiring guide sets the stage for a successful hire. Instead of the traditional job description, the success factors clearly define expectations and let candidates know what is expected of them once they come on board. The success factors define success in the role, not minimum qualifications. After all, isn't that what you really want to hire?

Brad Remillard is a speaker, author and trainer with more than 30 years of experience in hiring and recruiting. Through his corporate workshops and industry association speaking engagements, he demonstrates how organizations can effectively attract, interview, hire and retain top talent. Brad is also the co-founder of Impact Hiring Solutions and co-author of You’re NOT the Person I Hired: A CEO’s Guide to Hiring Top Talent. For more information on Brad’s hiring training programs or speaking, please visit www.bradremillard.com.