Behind the Curtain of the Hiring Process

From Resumark | February 23rd, 2010 by Sergey Novoselov





The
recruiting process varies by industry, company and profession, but end
result is the same: only one person out of many candidates is hired.
Not every company sends out rejection letters and only few say why.

For
those who aren't hired, it can be a mystery to understand what
happened, but knowing what exactly goes on behind the scenes may give
you the inside track for a job.

Many employers use recruiters or
human resources (HR) personnel to pre-screen applicants that meet a
job's basic qualifications. The goal is to remove only candidates that
are a clear miss. Some screeners read every resume, but many search for
certain keywords. Some of them consider cover letters and others may
ignore cover letters completely. To stay on the safe side, it is better
to submit a well-written cover letter and include relevant keywords
that usually found in the job posting.

Cover Letter for Your Resume - How to Write One that Doesn't Get Thrown Away

Well-Chosen Keywords Can Turn Your Resume into a Powerful Marketing Tool: Recommended Keywords for Your Resume

The
response time varies from a few days to several weeks and sometime you
may not receive a response at all. Recent survey shows that less than
30% of the companies have a formal process to decline job applications.
If you're worried that your application was never received, wait a few
days and call the employer to ask for confirmation.

The next
step is usually conducted by HR staff or hiring managers to further
narrow down the list of candidates for the first interview, which is
typically conducted via the phone. An exception can be made if a
candidate is referred by a headhunter, an employee or other trusted
source. A referred applicant may be given immediate attention and even
skip certain steps, such as a phone interview or filling out an online
application.

The general purpose of the phone interview is to
make sure candidates understand the job and have appropriate salary
expectations. Employer can also evaluate their communication skills.
Phone interviews are used to cut costs associated with on-site visits
and can last from 10 minutes to over an hour. In rare cases a second
phone interview can be scheduled. Some companies may also require
candidates to complete certain tests.

Successful candidates are
going for face-to-face interviews. Up to five applicants are typically
granted first-round interviews per open position, which usually involve
meeting with an HR person and two managers. If second-round interviews
are conducted, about half will go to meet more senior staff. During the
interviews, candidates are asked about their work experience,
employment history, career goals and other relevant topics.

At
most companies, once interviews are done, hiring managers will meet
with colleagues to get their opinions on who should be hired. Though,
in most cases, it's still the hiring manager's call and the decision
often comes down to your level of enthusiasm and fit for the position.