In the competitive world of recruitment, finding the right candidate goes beyond just matching skills and experience with job requirements. To make truly impactful hiring decisions, it’s essential for hiring managers and recruiters to understand the deeper motivations behind what a candidate wants and why do they want it. Understanding a candidate’s ‘why’—their core motivations and passions—can lead to better hiring decisions and higher employee satisfaction.
The ‘Why’ Behind the Candidate
When candidates apply for a position, they bring with them a unique set of experiences, skills, and aspirations. However, their true potential and long-term fit within your company can only be gauged by delving deeper into their motivations. Why do they want this job? What drives them to succeed? What are their career aspirations? Why are they seeking another role? By uncovering these answers, hiring managers can ensure that the candidates they select are not only capable but also genuinely passionate about the role and aligned with the company’s values and goals.
Enhancing Job Fit and Performance
Understanding a candidate’s ‘why’ can significantly enhance job fit. When employees are aligned with the mission and values of the company, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and committed. This alignment leads to better performance and productivity, as employees are working towards goals that resonate with their personal values and aspirations. Moreover, when employees find meaning and purpose in their work, job satisfaction increases, which in turn reduces turnover rates.
Asking the Right Questions
To uncover a candidate’s ‘why,’ hiring managers need to ask the right questions during the interview process. Questions that go beyond the standard skills and experience checklist can provide deeper insights into a candidate’s motivations. Examples include:
- What made you choose this career?
- Can you share a time when you felt really happy at work?
- What do you love doing, and how does this job fit with that?
- What do you want to achieve in your career, and how can this job help you get there?
These questions can help reveal what truly drives the candidate and whether their motivations align with the expectation of the role and also with the company’s mission and culture.
Building Stronger Relationships
When hiring managers show genuine interest in understanding a candidate’s ‘why,’ it fosters a stronger relationship from the very beginning. Candidates feel valued and understood, which can enhance their perception of the company and increase their likelihood of accepting a job offer. This positive initial interaction sets the tone for a more engaged and loyal employee.
Practical Steps for Hiring Managers
- Integrate Motivational Questions: Make questions about candidates’ motivations a standard part of your interview process.
- Promote a Culture of Purpose: Ensure that the requirements and expectations of the role as well as your company’s mission and values are clearly communicated throughout the recruitment process.
- Provide Training: Offer training for hiring managers on how to effectively uncover and assess candidates’ motivations.
- Reflect on Fit: Regularly review and reflect on how well new hires’ motivations align with their roles and the company culture.
Conclusion
Incorporating an understanding of candidates’ ‘why’ into your recruitment strategy is not just a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity for making better hiring decisions and fostering a more engaged, satisfied, and productive workforce. By delving deeper into what drives your candidates, you can ensure that you are not only hiring for skills and experience but also for passion and alignment with the role and your company’s mission and values. This holistic approach to hiring can ultimately lead to a stronger, more cohesive team and a thriving organization.
