I often refer to that unpredictable process in recruitment & selection procedures as the 'black box'. A box in which processes occur that are invisible to the naked eye. Processes that often don’t follow logic. But they’re definitely real. And sometimes very frustrating. Can we hack that annoying 'black box'? Or is it perhaps a good thing we don't know everything?
An example: A candidate and an employer seem to be the perfect match. The mutual enthusiasm is undeniable. And then suddenly... out of nowhere, the process gets derailed by something that completely throws it off track. Leaving everyone unexpectedly empty-handed. A month of work for nothing! Every HR professional, recruiter, and hiring manager will recognize this.
Witness to a marriage
Fortunately, people are not 100% rational beings. And that’s exactly what makes my job in recruitment & selection so exciting. I have the privilege of talking to companies about their dreams, growth, and challenges. And with candidates about those same things. I get to bring them together, let them ‘date’, and sit front row ‘when the magic happens’ and they decide to move forward together. It almost feels like being a witness at a wedding. Because isn’t that also a bond you don’t just casually enter into? Still, unpredictability and irrational processes are difficult in business. After all, we all want to predict outcomes. To plan and avoid unpleasant surprises.
Hack the black box of recruitment & selection
That’s why I secretly dream of being able to hack that ‘black box’. That I’ll find a way in, a backdoor, that lets me peek inside. So I can see the processes. Of course, partly to influence them. But mainly to understand them. Unfortunately, that remains a dream. Still, there are a few things the involved parties can do to at least make the black box as transparent as possible.
How to hack the black box?
- Be transparent Be open from the start. Whether you're a recruiter, an organization, or a candidate. Point out things you notice. Express doubts. Speak candidly. That’s hard. Especially because recruiters, organizations, and candidates always play a bit of a role in recruitment & selection processes. They all have different interests and want to present the best version of themselves. It’s just like a first date. You don’t immediately share that you sometimes wear dirty socks for an extra day. Or that deep down you’d love to eat everything on the Burger King menu. But give it a try: be transparent and honest. Even about the ‘less fun’ stuff.
- Manage expectations It’s one of my favorite mantras: keep the process moving and keep everyone informed. About everything. Let the parties involved know what to expect, how, and when. This makes the process smoother and reduces the risk of surprises.
- Reflect and learn Look back and try to learn from past procedures. Try to spot patterns. You’ll notice that certain phrases people use become so-called ‘red flags’. When you hear them, you can either steer the process or draw conclusions and adjust expectations.
But let’s keep the black box a little mysterious. Because a touch of unpredictability is exactly what makes our work so enjoyable. Right? Raymond te Veldhuis CheckData & DataJobs.nl