Engaging head hunters for recruitment

There are advantages of engaging headhunters to help you find the right candidate. For example, they help screen through the candidates for you. But there are also the downside part too.

You should not assume headhunters know and understand the job requirements and the qualities you are seeking for in the candidate. It would help if you list down in details the job requirements, qualifications and the type of candidates you are looking for. A consultant from the headhunting firm will contact you and provide you a list of potential candidates with their resumes. It is common that you receive multiple resumes for the same candidate from the different head hunting firms. As as side note, it is from here interestingly you see how each company "re-package" the candidate to make them look marketable.

To save, I would normally look through the resumes and ask the consultant questions about the candidate rather than during the interview. While I would normally discount some of the sales pitch provided by the consultants, I would be extra careful if questions asked are avoided or not answered directly for fear that this would make the applicant less marketable. This brings the credibility of the consultant to be quesitoned. In any case, in a small labour market like Singapore, for an executive/managerial/professional position it is really not difficult to find out about the working background of a person.

Red flags to look out for in resume

Shortlisting a candidate based on resume alone can be challenging as it may not fully reflect the person's real capability or intent. Its hard to find a resume that is 100% truthful, and that is expected. With good and creative writing skills, it is not difficult to make an average or below average job applicant look good on paper. Assuming on paper the potential candidate has the relevant work experience and qualification one potential red flag I would look out for in a resume is

Continuity of Job History

This is an indicator of how long the potential applicant is likely to stay with your company. I have known people who have made it a point to move every 3 years. I have also known people who cannot stay long on jobs. All these shows up in the career history. As rule of thumb, I normally would not shortlist anyone with average of 2 years with each company. To me training is expensive and it may take up to half year to train up a person. Also for an average person who wishes to move up to the next level, he/she needs at least 2 years on average - half year training, 1 year to show he/she is good at what he/she is doing and half year to prove that he/she is ready for the next level.

However, there are valid reasons why people do not stay long on their job, for example contract ended, incompetent bosses, demanding working hours, lack of guidance/direction, lack of advancement opportunities, etc. This is something that is difficult to tell from the resume. However, I would have my apprehension about hiring someone who could not stay more than a year (on average) in his/her last 5 jobs if the person I is for a permanent position.

Use of Email

One of the most commonly used communication tool in the workplace is the email. As an efficient and low cost communication tool the email has to a large extent replaced internal memos and formal communication to external parties. Most organisations today cannot operate efficiently with the failure of the email communication system. Linked together with the world wide electronic network whether through cable or wireless means, like the cell phone, anyone can almost be reached anytime and anywhere even in the most remotest part of the world.

Such power and has inevitably changed the nature of the job. In the office, it has also added a new dimension in office politics which like a double edged sword can be used to your advantage or disadvantage. The office email on the positive side if used effectively can help on get promoted and also get demoted or to a more extreme case, dismissed. In the social front, it helps you network, make new friends and also lose them if used carelessly.

In any case, email has become a part of life. As can be seen if you were to asked to fill in your personal particulars, chances are you would be required to provide an email address you can be contacted.