Archives for 2016

Can a job candidate think in an innovative manner? Can they effectively assimilate coaching and feedback? Will they be adaptable to new environments? Will they work well within a team?

An investigation of employer trends in work evaluation shows that today’s biggest companies are looking beyond just technical skills when hiring. Instead of traditional methods, they are using more nuanced selection, interviewing and placement techniques throughout the hiring process.

These employer trends can assist and inspire businesses in other sectors as well.

While personality tests and skills assessments were widely used in the past, they are being replaced by more individualized screening methods, according to observers of employer trends. Companies like Google are now using the following techniques and methods for more effective hiring:

Behavioral Interviewing

Behavioral interviewing aims to determine future behavior and job performance by asking specific but open-ended questions about the candidate’s past. For example, instead of asking, “Are you a team player?” the interviewer might say, “Tell me about a time when you were on a team project and saw things differently from everyone else. How did you express yourself? What was the outcome?”

Cognitive Processing is Key

While the Google company prizes computer coding skills highly, the second most important attribute is effective cognitive processing. The ability to think on your feet and learn and process new information on the fly is valued more highly than intelligence or I.Q. It can be assessed by asking interview questions about how the candidate would handle a new challenge in a high pressure situation, or by giving timed testing requiring quick learning to solve a problem.

Leadership

Good leadership skills and abilities always bode well for a candidate’s future performance. Find out if they have had any leadership positions in the past and ask what they enjoyed most about them. Leadership positions could be management or supervisory roles at work, but the head of a fraternity or the captain of the math club also counts.

Humility and Ownership

Candidates should balance out their skills and leadership abilities with a healthy measure of humility and the ability to own up to mistakes. Ask candidates how they have handled mistakes at work.

Lastly, today’s major companies are well aware of the hazards and pitfalls of negligent hiring, which is why employer trends in worker evaluation point towards more comprehensive employment background check procedures. No matter how large or small the company, background checks offer a way to help safeguard against hiring a worker with a criminal past.

Disclaimer: The information on InstantCriminalChecks.com is governed by our Terms of Use and is never intended as legal advice.

Recent violence in the workplace on a mass scale in San Bernardino, CA has had traumatic effects on the psyche of our country. Sadly, these shootings seem to be taking place so often we are almost numb to hearing the news.

Husband and wife terrorist killers Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik wore black tactical gear and used assault rifles to kill 14 people and seriously injure 22 people at a social service where Farook worked. He had attended the workplace event normally at first, but later slipped away and returned armed and dressed in black.

Blurred Lines

In this case, with the couples’ alleged affiliation with extremists, the lines between terrorism and violence in the workplace have been blurred. However, it is yet another example of a worst-case scenario that can occur when a less than ideal employee is brought on board.

Another recent and very public instance of gun violence in the workplace occurred when two journalists were killed while on the air. Reporter Alison Parker and camera operator Adam Ward were fatally shot by a co-worker who was frustrated about racial and other issues.

An average of 700 people per year are murdered at their workplace in America. That’s nearly two per day, according to federal statistics. This number doesn’t account for the violent attacks that don’t result in death; for example, in the year 2009, 572,000 adults were attacked in some physical way while at work, the Bureau of Justice reports.

The Many Forms That Violence In The Workplace Can Take

Some estimate that the actual number of workplace violence is even higher, as more minor incidents may never be reported; the Occupational Health and Safety Administration estimates millions of workers per year are likely impacted by violence in the workplace. From physical assaults to verbal abuse to the worst-case scenario of murder, the sad truth is that violence in the workplace seems to be increasing.

The most common workplace problems of this nature are intimidation, bullying and threats, and these emotional forms of violence are far less reported and publicized than those involving guns. However, it doesn’t mean that lasting damage isn’t done. Also, the stereotype is that all violence in the workplace is committed by persons who are disgruntled with their treatment. However, sometimes violence in the workplace is fueled by an issue unrelated to work such as a personal situation at home.

Pre-employment background checks including criminal background checks are powerful ways to find out more about an applicant’s history and create a safer workplace. While humans are unpredictable, employment background checks can assist businesses in learning more about who they might be hiring.

Disclaimer: The information on InstantCriminalChecks.com is governed by our Terms of Use and is never intended as legal advice

A hiring plan can give a startup a leading edge over the competition and make getting the company off the ground smoother and easier.

The following are five key reasons why all startups should have a hiring plan in place before they launch:

1. Financing Advantages

Establishing a hiring plan as part of a startup business plan well before the launch of a business could facilitate more interest from valuable funding sources. A hiring plan that includes specifics about staff and management can show lenders that the most important roles are filled by quality individuals who will get the business off to a strong start and help ensure a bright future.

2. Quality Management Selections

Having key roles filled before startup is as essential as having a business plan and funding. Managers and other top positions as well as skilled staff require careful consideration and vetting before determining if they will be a fit. These are not decisions to be taken lightly, and a hiring plan can ensure that these positions are filled with the highest quality individuals with high standards.

3. Employment Background Check Considerations

Using employment background checks should be a part of every new company’s business blueprint, and a formal hiring plan can help to ensure it is done thoroughly, correctly and in compliance with current Federal and state laws. A hiring plan can adequately cover all of these concerns so that background checks are not left to chance. Partnering with a professional employment background check service is an excellent way to outsource this important step.

4. It’s All About People

A business might have the most innovative new product or service, but if they aren’t staffed with professional, personable employees and management, they won’t have much staying power. Customer service is key to success, and a strong hiring plan can help to ensure quality staff.

5. A More Secure Future

Staffing and hiring for the business as it grows and matures is essential. A hiring plan will outline parameters and guidelines to be used initially as well as going forward. Having these considerations taken care of and well established before launch can assist a company in many ways, including having a firm foundation on which to build the business going forward.

Some startups become so focused on their product or service that they neglect the crucial area of staffing. These five points illustrate why every startup should have a high-quality hiring plan.

Disclaimer: The information on InstantCriminalChecks.com is governed by our Terms of Use and is never intended as legal advice.