According to a recent article I read from ERE.net titled “Our Most Effective Source of Hire” by Randell Birkwood, more and more companies are starting to measure their quality of hire in order to save money while increasing productivity. While reading this, my competitive mindset automatically kicked in and I started thinking about what kind of qualities great employees have – as it is probably these qualities that produce a high-quality, highly-productive, workforce. In any case, I believe that great performers have determination, strength, and drive.
Sport teams that eventually make it to the Olympics have tryouts prior because they want to filter out mediocre talent and only recruit the best performers. Organizations that screen candidates with applicant tracking systems do so to get the best competitive, hardworking talent out there. The people that want it, go after it, follow up, and don’t give up on it. This year, I was engrossed with watching the USA Girls Soccer team. During every intense game they played I was on the edge of my seat! Win or lose this team left me feeling empowered with the reality that in life those who succeed have almost all of the following qualities; loyalty, passion, commitment, drive and adaptability, all in which can sum up a successful organization’s corporate culture.
As the captain of the girls USA soccer team, Christie Rampone is preparing her team for their fourth trip to the Olympics. Her job is not only to play soccer, but also to motivate and represent the team with the importance of teamwork, vision, values, playing by the rules, and not giving up when pressure sets in. Just as in any company or organization you work for, you will have a boss, manager, or team lead that will work close with you to instill the mission and values that are expected of you. In my experience at iCIMS, my team lead has been one of the biggest inspirations for not only myself but all my peers around me. Our marketing team is extremely driven and everyone feels confident and motivated to work harder and longer to deliver their best quality performance. Seeing that success and inspiration in your team members reflects back on management and proves the “leadership style” they use works.
Success of a team is not measured by how far you can kick a ball, or how big of an organization you work for. Finding the right employees for your organization plays a key role to what your work atmosphere will be like and the success you can expect to see. There are so many ways this day and age to apply for a job. In the article I read it reported on the quality of hire from a source of hire perspective globally. Here are their findings in order of most successful.
- Former Employees.
- Passive Candidates
- Employee Referrals
- Staffing Agencies
- Contractor Conversions
- Job Boards
But what would you look for in a candidate that would make them stand out from the thousands of other candidates who want the same position? Some people truly believe “it’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know,” but would you agree that, that alone will lead to a quality employee? Who you know might get you in the door, but the employee must prove themself to be an outstanding addition to the team in order to be considered quality.
It’s important to invest in your employees. You want them to be adaptable, driven, communicate well, be customer-oriented, innovative, and deliver their work with passion and integrity. I believe all these qualities should exist in a person you hire but also need to be nurtured as the employee works at your company. Successful organizations can support quality employees by providing the right training, insight into the corporate culture, and clear articulation of goals they are working towards achieving. As a result the percentage of new hires that pass their one year anniversary and meet or go beyond their expectations for the year will be no surprise and the company will continue to grow and succeed.
