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Free Human Resource Information
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A Working Interview
What Is It?
Why Do It?
How Does It Work?
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A new personnel concept is being bantered about. It's known as the
"Working Interview." Clients are asking us: "What is it? Why should I do
it? How does it work?" This, I hope, will be a simple explanation of how this
recruitment and hiring tactic can fit into your overall hiring strategy.
What Is A Working Interview?
When you have a personnel opening you may choose, as many of our clients have, to fill
the vacancy by hiring a temporary who is looking for a full-time position. This new hiring
practice is called a "Working Interview." Many people prefer this method of
hiring because positions are filled faster. With the Working Interview there is little, if
any up-front interviewing. The hiring decision is made after the temporary has
demonstrated satisfactory performance on the job.
Why Should I Do It?
There are several reasons why the Working Interview may be feasible for your personnel
needs. With the Working Interview, mistakes can be easily fixed. If a candidate is not
working out, that candidate can be immediately replaced. You don't have to live with a
hiring mistake. Other benefits include the fact that recruitment costs are amortized over
a longer period of time, advertising costs are reduced, you have more flexibility than
with a full-time hire and you enjoy non-employer status. Your staffing service is the
employer and, thus, is responsible for W-2's, I-9's, taxes, unemployment claims, etc.
How Does It Actually Work?
Once you have identified what kind of candidate you're looking for, call us and ask if we
have any available candidates who would be willing to work as a temporary with the goal
of eventually converting (if both parties are satisfied) to full-time. Once a prospect is
identified and agreed upon, a start date is worked out. Then the two parties try each
other out and, at any time after the start date, providing both parties mutually agree,
the employment can become full-time. After 90-days, usually you can hire the candidate at
no charge.
Typical Applications
Typical applications for the Working Interview are entry-level positions, positions that
need to be filled immediately, problem positions where turnover has been costly, bosses
who prefer testing their compatibility with a candidate before hiring a full-time
employee, questionable areas that need to be tested and, generally, companies in the state
of major organizational change or uncertainty. Working Interviews also occur at higher
levels and are sometimes referred to as contract hires.
Whether or not this particular program fits into your overall recruitment strategy, you
should be aware of it. As I have said over and over, you should know all of
your recruitment options and implement the one that fits your individual recruitment need
on a case by case basis.
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