A monthly online publication designed to help employers
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The ‘WOW! Factor’
(By Dan Simmons)
Recruiting a top-notch candidate is a lot like
dating. You want to find out all about him/her and you also want
to present yourself in the best light possible. You get excited
when you first meet such a candidate, just like after a great first
date. The interview process is a lot like romance, too. If all
is going well, you want it to go smoothly and at just the right
moment you want to ask for a commitment, hoping for an enthusiastic “Yes!”
We’ve talked before about the importance of keeping the romance
alive—and by that I mean keeping the interview process moving
along. In this issue, I want to talk about the offer of employment.
I’m going to keep using the dating analogy, so maybe this article
will make you smile while also imparting timely advice.
Recently, I heard a stand-up comic talk about how men often propose.
They get dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant, get a bottle
of wine (or two), and hope that in the dim light of a romantic
setting and after the glow of the wine has kicked in that he will
have the courage to make the big offer. By presenting her with
a shining rock, he also hopes that she will be so caught up in
the moment (and possibly the wine) that she will immediately and
wholeheartedly commit to a lifetime together.
There are many similarities between this scenario and the job offer.
In today’s market, once you get to the point in the interview
process where decisions are made, you need to act swiftly and boldly.
Going back to the restaurant analogy, does the man who proposed want
to hear, “Well, that’s a very solid offer, but I’d
like a couple weeks to think about it, as I’m dating other
guys,” or does he want her to say, “Wow! Of course,
I’ll spend the rest of my life with you!”?
The same is true in business. You want to hear “Wow!” So
how do you get the “Wow! Factor”? Unlike the proposal,
I don’t encourage two bottles of wine, but I do recommend making
an offer that is so attractive that the person can’t say no.
In our current employment market, when companies are determined to
only hire great talent, great talent has choices, so you need to
make an offer they can’t refuse.
By the way, you might want to remember the shining rock, and by that
I mean a signing bonus. Just like the diamond engagement ring is
meant to dazzle and seek a commitment, a good sign-on bonus can
have the same impact.
Here are some important things to remember about extending an attractive
offer:
- For a great candidate, go to the maximum
salary possible. Quibbling over ten thousand dollars for a great
candidate is peanuts. Do you want your competition to be able
to hire this candidate? Do you want the candidate to think about
your offer or immediately say “YES!”?
- A signing bonus has an immediate, positive
effect on the newly hired, yet only costs once.
- Move quickly once a decision has been made. Just like in
romance, there is a time to propose and a time when it’s
just too late because the other person has moved on emotionally.
- Be decisive. If you want to hire, make the offer. People
respect the ability of others to make a decision and are cautious
about those who can’t. We’ve all heard about commitment-phobia.
- Document your offer in writing so there are no misunderstandings
later.
One last thing—when you “Wow!” a
candidate, they are likely to accept. If the candidate says, “That’s
an attractive offer,” you didn’t “Wow!” them.
If you’d like more information about this topic, feel free
to send me an email at dan@consearch.com
(When it comes to diamond rings, there are four C’s that
buyers look for: carat, cut, clarity, and color. Who do you use to
help you obtain the best diamonds—or candidates—possible?
The guy selling them out of the trunk of his Cadillac or a highly
trained professional with years of experience? In next month’s
issue, we’ll discuss the four C’s of every good recruiter
and how they can help you obtain the candidates you need to make
your company shine.)
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