During periods of rising unemployment numbers, it can be difficult to weed out the job seekers looking for “any job” from the quality candidates seeking your position specifically. Finding these quality candidates, then determining if they will be a good fit for your company and culture tends to be easier said than done, especially amidst a large pool of applicants.

To make sure you’re hiring the right candidate for the job, give the following practices a try:

• Take your time.  Many employers feel the stress of hiring, especially when a position is left vacant. It’s important to keep in mind that taking your time now to find the right candidate will save your company valuable time and money in the long run. Remember, in your lifetime, you will spend more time at work than at home, so don’t be afraid to take your time choosing your next employee.
• Consult your top employees. As a common habit, people tend to associate with similar people. If you have particularly motivated, hardworking employee, chances are, they know other hardworking individuals.  Ask your employees for referrals and incentivize them to do so.
• Ask unusual questions. Job seekers are accustomed to the typical, semi-stuffy office interview. Spice things up by throwing in a few curveball questions where applicable. Pay attention to body language and how they choose to answer the question. This will help you determine how they react under pressure while breaking past the best behavior façade.
• Provide a stressful task.  Bring up one of the most stressful scenarios an employee has had to handle with on the job. Ask the candidate to describe in detail how he or she would handle a similar situation. This will provide a great deal of insight on how serious the candidate truly is about the position at hand as well as offer a sneak peek into their personality and individual work workflow.

Hiring the best possible candidates for the job is much more of a challenge today than it once was, but that does not make it an impossible feat. Simply slowing down your process and thinking outside of the typical interviewing box will help shed light on who is excited about your company and who is merely desperate for a job. The best way to screen potential employees, though, is to work closely with an experienced staffing company. If you are in need of top quality job candidates in Jackson, Mississippi, contact the hiring experts at Staffers, Inc. today!