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Identifying the Perfect Candidate
Chapter 1: Identifying the Perfect Candidate
Before you can start hiring, you need to identify the perfect candidate. Surprisingly,
very few businesses take the time to truly identify the perfect candidate. Most have a vague idea of
what’s needed and what’s not, but companies that take the time to genuinely consider what is needed to
perform at your workplace will be the ones that will find those candidates.
Common Mistakes
Most companies only think about the simplest idea of the perfect employee for an open position. For
example, perhaps they need someone that programs PHP, so they advertise for someone with 3 years PHP
mistakes, including:
Ignoring Great Candidates – Depending on
the position, do you really need 3 years of PHP
experience? Do you need any other coding
knowledge? Would you turn down someone that
was self-taught, or would you reward someone
that had a college degree but no practical
experience? Without a true idea of what you
want, you could be ignoring someone that meets
your needs.
Poor Advertising – Great applicants often apply
to jobs they know they can get. They know that
they’re desirable already, so they have little need
to apply to jobs that ask for skills they don’t
have, or experience they haven’t developed. You
need your job advertisement to be as accurate
as possible for the perfect candidate, and until
you’ve developed that perfect applicant profile
you may not know what it is you’re truly looking
for.
Before you start hiring, you need to rethink...
Remember
it’s not just what you need but also what you don’t
need. Perhaps a self-taught individual with no college
experience that can prove they have the knowledge
would be just as good or better than someone with
years of experience. Or perhaps you are looking for
someone that you can train, and you’d prefer to work
with an individual with more work experience so that
the transition to the corporate environment is more
seamless.
There are many different considerations to make
when deciding on what makes the “perfect candidate.”
But it’s an important exercise, because it will drive de-
cisions that you’ll make later and affect who will apply
to your advertisements.
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Identifying the Perfect Candidate
charteredplacements.co.za
Before you open the position, write up a profile of the ideal candidate. In this profile, identify the
things that are important for the role. Be realistic. Ask yourself what you really need, what you don’t
need, what you can train in easily, what you cannot, and more. Map everything out.
If possible, have other people map these out as well. Look for things like personality expectations. What is
Why it is So Important to Profile Your Candidates
Figure Out the Best Way to Reach Them
gumtree.co.za,andmore – these are niche job boards that appeal to those that are looking in those areas.
Identifying the perfect candidate means you’ll know exactly where to look and where to target when you
How to Talk to Them
best applicants to your job description. Remember, there are employees that you wait for and employers
How to Choose Recruitment Tools
Of course, you cannot always identify the perfect candidate by resumé alone, and you are likely to get
of position that is going to require a background check? What about skills testing or reference checking?
What to Do – Write a Profile of the Ideal Candidate
Chartered Placements careers24.co.za, jobmail.co.za,
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Identifying the Perfect Candidate
employed individuals willing to leave for a better job), statistically there is going to be a perfect new hire
somewhere that you’ll be able to reach, impress, and hire.
Your Perfect Candidate is Out Th ere
6. Chartered Placements is NOT a traditional Recruitment Agency.
We work with your in-house staff to provide the recruitment tools to
enhance your processes, assist your budget and free up your time,
whilst you maintain full choice and control.
Chartered Placements will take control and be honored to search,
source and screen the very best candidate to match your requirement.
Affording you the luxury of focusing on running your business.
• Our recruitment process is entirely transparent – you maintain
control over every step of the process.
• You can compare apples with apples – candidates apply by
answering your First Round Screening Questions, custom-
created for your specific role. No more email spam.
• Your applicants don’t just come from a small in-house database
– your position is advertised across a wide range of generalist
and niche media, targeting active and passive jobseekers, to
provide you with the best applicants in the market.
- Dean Meldau CEO; Chartered Placements Capetown
Visit us on
charteredplacements.co.za
or email us on
info@charteredplacements.co.za
or call us on
+27 21 200 4222
We offer our recruitment services to all industries, we want to
partner with you to help your company reach its potential.
Whether you're looking for a small tweak or top management
staffing solutions, we have you covered. Our word is our bond.
