Employee Testing Center

What Do You Do With The Job-Hopper?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 21:01:29 +0000

The term itself seems derogatory, doesn’t it? Job-hopping. The action of moving from one job to another and spending a short amount of time at each job. That’s my definition. After googling a definition of job-hopping, we get: A job-hopper is someone who stays at a job for approximately one to two years. Job-hopping, generally defined as spending less than …

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How To Improve Your Candidate Pool

Stan Dubin — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 15:15:32 +0000

The candidate pool for a good number of employers consists of those who are responding to a current job offer. And that’s fine. The right person may very well be there. But let’s look at expanding that candidate pool. Permit me to give a sports analogy. Some of the best teams in baseball have two …

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When An Employee Recommends Someone To Be Hired

Stan Dubin — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 22:27:45 +0000

Ellen, an employee of yours, has been with you for several years. She’s hard-working, loyal and you trust her judgment. Your receptionist is leaving and you need to get her replaced. Ellen comes to you one day and says, “Mr. Jones, my friend, Julie, I believe she would be perfect for the receptionist position.” You …

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What Can Pre-Screening Candidates Tell You?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 16:38:14 +0000

As you know, the reason to pre-screen candidates is to save you and your hiring staff the time it takes to do full on interviews. It can also save you the expense of doing background checks, though some of you will want to get those done very early on as part of the pre-screening process. …

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Mistakes on the Résumé — How Serious Is This?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 00:18:18 +0000

Ideally the applicant comes in with a résumé that is honest, clearly laid out and free of errors. Errors could range from spelling or grammar errors to outright false statements regarding previous employment. Let’s look at the low end first. If there’s two words that are misspelled and one clear instance of poor grammar, what …

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What Would Keep You Here For Five Years?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 16:09:47 +0000

When I talk with business owners, a major hiring concern that comes up is longevity. It is particularly focused on “younger people” who too often jump ship when a better offer shows up. That better offer could be more pay, better hours, better perks. How often this happens, I couldn’t say. But enough business owners …

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What Are Your Hiring Criteria For Each Position?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 17:04:23 +0000

By having handy a clear statement of the hiring criteria for each position — and using that statement — your hiring decisions will come faster, with more confidence and likely with a better outcome.

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What If Your Co-Workers Aren’t Cutting It?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 21:33:09 +0000

I just realized these tips are being read in various countries outside of the U.S. so let me provide a definition for the phrase: “cutting it.” Cutting it means to be effective or successful. So, we want to find out how this applicant would deal with a situation where the employees around him are not …

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When Many Apply For the Same Position

Stan Dubin — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 21:19:46 +0000

Depending on how the job market is going, you’ll find there are times when quite a few people apply for the same position. This of course will vary from area to area, and it also will be influenced by how you are promoting a particular position. If you’re posting the job offer on just your …

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How Well Does He Communicate?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 21:53:20 +0000

To a certain degree, you’re going to find out how well someone communicates during their hiring interview(s). But let’s see if we can go a bit further with this. Adam is applying for the position of Office Manager. After he’s answered all of your interview questions, let Adam know you’d like him to meet a …

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How Long Will He Be With You?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 21:13:27 +0000

Today’s work environment is certainly different than a few decades ago. Back in “those days,” when someone started with a company, there was a strong likelihood of being with the company for many years. Helping the company grow, enjoying raises in salary, and overall being a coveted contributor. Today, not so much. How long someone …

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Sometimes It Best To Say Nothing

Stan Dubin — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 21:09:32 +0000

Throughout the hiring interview, you are always looking to get as much information as you possibly can. Questions like: “Can you give me another example of that?” and “Can you tell me how that affected you?” and “Can you provide more details on what happened there?” are examples of how to get more complete answers …

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You’re New. What Would You Do First?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 21:39:04 +0000

New employees have an expectation of receiving some training for their new position. That makes sense. After the training point is covered, let’s ask our prospective, new employee a few of these questions: “Alice, it sounds like you understand what our company’s purpose is. So, if we were to hire you, what would you do …

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How Would You Handle An Angry Co-Worker? An Angry Customer?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 21:22:52 +0000

It’s something all of us run into at one time or another. Angry co-workers. Angry customers. Some of us prefer to confront these individuals head on. That can work. It can also escalate things into a far worse situation than anyone bargained for. Some of us prefer to just “look the other way.” No effort …

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What Would You Do Differently?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 12 Jul 2020 19:46:36 +0000

I like this question for the hiring interview. You could get specific with: “Adam, in your last position with your previous employer, what would you do differently?” You could get very specific with: “Adam, in your last position, tell me about an outcome that didn’t go very well.” Adam does. And then: “Thinking about that …

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Should You Use a Recruiter – Part Two

Stan Dubin — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 20:02:30 +0000

We’re fortunate to have Kathleen Steffey for this second discussion of why you may want to use a recruiter. Press the play button and enjoy! Here are some links to reach Kathleen: Her home page. Her page of her key staff and their qualifications to help you fill important positions. and Her LinkedIn page. We’re …

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Should You Use a Recruiter? (Part One)

Stan Dubin — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:26:18 +0000

This tip is in the form of a podcast interview, so feel free to press the play button above. I am interviewing Kathleen Steffey. Kathy has been recruiting for 25 years and 18 years ago started her own recruiting business. Here are some links to find out more about her: Her home page. Her page …

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How Did You Handle Disagreements?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 24 May 2020 20:34:29 +0000

This could be broken down into three parts: How did you handle disagreements with customers? How did you handle disagreements with other employees? How did you handle disagreements with your superiors or the boss? There’s a handful of ways that someone deals with a disagreement. One could just succumb, or give in, and let the …

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Is The Customer Always Right?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 17 May 2020 19:12:17 +0000

I find this to be a fascinating question to ask an applicant. But before we can do that, you would need to answer the question yourself: Is the customer always right? I know some companies believe in this so strongly they have plaques on the wall proclaiming it. Likely not for the customer to see, …

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How Would You Resolve an Employee Dispute?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 03 May 2020 21:37:25 +0000

You could say, it’s not up to Employee A to resolve a dispute between Employee B and Employee C. You could say that. But if the supervisor for Employees A, B and C isn’t around or isn’t into resolving disputes, are we going to just let disputes fester? Well, sometimes we do. But let’s check …

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Will They Contribute to the Organization’s Mission?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 19:54:00 +0000

If you’ve been reading these tips for a while, you know I like to define terms. So, let’s look at a definition of mission: The purpose or the most important aim of an organization. Before you can find out how your applicant will contribute to your organization’s mission, we need to establish with the applicant what that is. You could …

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Can We Generalize About Young Applicants?

Stan Dubin — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 20:49:39 +0000

In the end, you are interviewing the person in front of you. His “age group’s tendencies” are not something you should overly focus on. Every person is a unique individual. That person in front of you may be uniquely qualified to do what you want and may also be an excellent cultural fit for you.

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Salespeople — What Should You Look for?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 21:53:32 +0000

The Hiring Tips Newsletter has grown to 275 tips. Sixty-five of the best tips are available in the book, How to Hire The Right People. 99% of these tips are simply that. A way of looking at some aspect of the hiring process that will make that process easier, more efficient and even more successful. …

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Boring Web Site Hiring Pages

Stan Dubin — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 21:28:31 +0000

Just about every company has a web site. And if you do not have one, please realize the main character in the movie Groundhog Day* has been taken! Most company web sites include a page to offer employment. I have seen many of these pages. Likely hundreds of them. I don’t wish to be too …

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Is The Applicant a Job-Hopper?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 20:52:55 +0000

We all have a good idea of what a “job-hopper” is, but let’s look at a couple of definitions anyway, both fairly similar: A job-hopper is someone who works briefly in one position after another rather than staying at any one job or organization long-term. Job-hopping is a pattern of changing companies every year or two of one’s own volition …

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Do You Use A Checklist With Each Applicant?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 21:50:46 +0000

We all have a series of steps we take when hiring a new employee. Let’s look at some of them that you could put into a checklist: • Determining the need for the position. • Can we fill that need internally? • Promoting to the existing staff that we’re looking to fill a position and …

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This Job Is Very Stressful And…

Stan Dubin — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 22:00:25 +0000

Good luck with this one. You may get some sparks, but you may also get a few gems coming through.

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Making Promises You Can’t Keep

Stan Dubin — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 23:31:20 +0000

You hire a bright individual and you’re so excited, you tell him you’re looking forward to a long future with him. That you feel confident he is going to be a great, long term asset with you. You love another candidate’s résumé and all of the glowing reports you got from the person’s previous employers, …

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Should You Test Your Applicants?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 21:20:33 +0000

I realize this is going to be a biased hiring tip as our flagship service is employee testing. But let’s take a look at a few things here. How many times have you hired someone who interviewed really well, but you found out a few weeks or months later the person was not the same …

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Should You Indicate the Salary in Your Recruiting Ads?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 10 Nov 2019 20:58:56 +0000

There are good reasons to do so and there are some good reasons not to do so. Let’s take a look at a few. Reasons to Indicate the Salary If you do list the salary, you’re likely to provide a range. If this information was not in the recruit ad, you may miss out on …

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What Do Applicants Ask You?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 21:13:54 +0000

Give your applicant ample time to ask any question he or she wants to ask. If you get the usual questions, no big deal.
If you get some well thought out ones, that’s a good sign.

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What Would Your Employer Say If We Asked?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 18:52:22 +0000

This is a great question to have handy during the hiring interview. You can substitute the words “supervisor” or “management team” for the word ‘employer.’ Here’s three examples: You ask Frank what was a difficult problem that he solved at his last position. Frank says, “I was able to solve so and so…” and then …

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How Important Is Empathy?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 20:44:23 +0000

First, let’s get a definition of empathy: • The ability to understand other people’s feelings and problems Here’s another definition I like: • The ability to understand how someone feels because you can imagine what it is like to be them Let’s look at a simple incident that may happen at a dental practice. Frank just had some dental work done. He makes his way to the front desk to pay …

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The Hiring Spreadsheet

Stan Dubin — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 20:43:04 +0000

I may be the first person to create The Hiring Spreadsheet. There may be others out there, but I haven’t seen one. If you’ve been reading these Hiring Tips for a while, you know I’m big on sharing, so I won’t be filing for a copyright. Kidding aside, you can and should use this spreadsheet …

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The “Battle” For Hourly Workers — Part Two

Stan Dubin — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 20:48:45 +0000

In Part One of this tip, we discussed finding hourly workers. Different ways they could be found, some ideas on incentivizing your current staff to help you locate them, that type of thing. In Part Two, let’s take a look at keeping your hourly staff. Now, I realize hourly staff can be a high area …

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Does The Applicant Feel Entitled?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 22:45:10 +0000

I realize this may be a bit of an edgy subject for some, but I think it’s worth exploring. First, let’s look at a definition of entitled: “Believing oneself to be deserving of certain privileges” We know the entitled person when we see one. They believe they should be treated with more importance than others. …

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How Would You Handle The Irate Customer?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 22:02:29 +0000

This is a great interview question for the applicant who will be having direct contact with your customers. But it’s also a very interesting question for those who will not be directly handling your customers. Let’s say you’re hiring someone who will only be working at the computer; or managing inventory full time; or some …

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What Happens When They Are No Longer on Their Best Behavior?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 20:56:47 +0000

If they are bringing their best to the interview, and their best isn’t even up to what you’d like to see in your day-to-day workplace, then give that sufficient weight in the hiring decision.

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The “Battle” For Hourly Workers — Part One

Stan Dubin — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 20:07:12 +0000

Finding, hiring and keeping hourly workers can be a challenge. A few facts: • Just under 60% of the U.S. workforce are hourly workers. • Hourly workers in many areas change jobs frequently. • The cost of this frequent job change can be considerable to the employer. • More and more companies, like Uber and …

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How to Frame Interview Questions

Stan Dubin — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 21:31:05 +0000

First, let’s grab a fast definition of the word frame: “To carefully plan the way you are going to ask a question, make a statement, etc.” If you take a bit of time to frame your interview questions, you’ll get answers that are considerably more valuable to you. You do not want the candidate trying …

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Have You Tried Asking Your Staff for a Referral?

Stan Dubin — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 20:58:12 +0000

You need a position filled. It’s a fairly important one. You’ve tried your usual methods of finding a candidate, but you haven’t been successful. Have you tried asking your staff to help out? If your company is of a certain size where you have regular staff meetings, you could bring it up at the next …

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A Bit of Hiring Advice from Lee Iacocca

Stan Dubin — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 21:10:58 +0000

For those of you not familiar with Lee Iacocca, he was an automobile executive best known for the development of Ford Mustang and Pinto cars, while at the Ford Motor Company in the 1960s, and then later for reviving the Chrysler Corporation as its Chief Executive Officer during the 1980s. Chrysler was a failing, major …

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Do You Have an Employee Referral Program?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 20:18:53 +0000

Hourly workers represent the area of highest turnover in the business world. In a survey by the Society of Human Resource Management, respondents reported that the average annual turnover for hourly workers is 49 percent, at an average cost of $4,969 per employee. Whatever that cost may be for your business, it’s likely you’re experiencing …

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Your Best Day, Your Worst Day?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 20:18:51 +0000

Chris O’Neill, the CEO at Evernote, offered this as a great interview tool: “‘Tell me about your best and worst days at work.’ The answers are very revealing. ‘Best day’ answers demonstrate what makes that person tick, what motivates them. ‘Worst day’ answers tell whether a person is a team player—if their response focuses on …

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You Are Doing Background Checks, Right?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 20:21:22 +0000

In an article on theft in the workplace: “Billions of dollars are lost and stolen annually from businesses, because of employee theft. Employee dishonesty and theft costs U.S. business over $50 billion dollars annually. National estimates show that 75% of all employees steal from their employers at least once throughout their careers. The same statistics …

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Would a Different Job Suit You Better?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 25 May 2019 20:30:35 +0000

Let’s find out if they feel they’re better suited to something else. If nothing else, you may like the candid answers you get. And you may gain a nice nugget of insight that will help you make your decision.

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Interview With Suzanne Kelly — 4

Stan Dubin — Fri, 10 May 2019 15:42:07 +0000

This is the fourth and final appearance on the Hiring Tips podcast of Suzanne Kelly. In the first three shows we discussed some basic mistakes that are during the hiring process. We also covered the importance of reference checks and how to get a reference check done. Really done. Not superficially, but where you can …

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Interview With Suzanne Kelly — 3

Stan Dubin — Fri, 03 May 2019 17:04:08 +0000

This is the third appearance on the Hiring Tips podcast of Suzanne Kelly. In the first show, we answer some basic questions about hiring and hiring mistakes that can be avoided. In the second show with Suzanne, we go more into depth on reference checks. A fully done reference check will often provide you with …

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Interview With Suzanne Kelly — 2

Stan Dubin — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 20:18:32 +0000

This is the second appearance on the Hiring Tips podcast of Suzanne Kelly. In the first show, which you should listen to first, we answer some basic questions about hiring and hiring mistakes that can be avoided. In this show, we go more into depth on reference checks. A fully done reference check will often …

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Interview With Suzanne Kelly — 1

Stan Dubin — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 19:24:59 +0000

Today’s hiring tip is a bit different from our usual tips. We have a wonderful and very capable guest on the Hiring Tips podcast, Suzanne Kelly. For over twenty years, Suzanne has been working with leaders, management teams and business owners to help them bring the best possible people on board. Suzanne’s area of expertise …

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What Have You Done to Become More Effective?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 22:40:46 +0000

When it comes to improving one’s craft as a salesperson, or as someone doing collections, as an administrator, office manager or even as a waitress, what are the possibilities? Well, some folks do essentially nothing. They wait for their current employer to give them additional training. And there are some when they go through this …

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How Much Money Are You Making?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 20:16:32 +0000

I should mention right at the beginning that in some areas an employer cannot ask an applicant about their current or former salary. So, please check first in your area to ensure there are no restrictions on this. Otherwise, it’s a very good tip, so here we go. If the amount of money you’re offering isn’t anywhere near …

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What Motivates You To Come Into Work?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 18:08:32 +0000

An interesting question. What motivates us to come into work? Some of us, perhaps many of us, come to work each day to get a paycheck. We’re happy to be employed; we’re grateful for the opportunity; but we need the funds to live and take care of ourselves and possibly others. And that’s our primary …

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The 80/20 Rule and the Hiring Interview

Stan Dubin — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 21:29:07 +0000

The 80/20 rule has had various applications in business. Some examples: 80% of your revenue comes from 20% of your customers. In other words, 20% of your customers end up, over time, providing 80% of your revenue. 80% of your results in marketing comes from 20% of the methods used. If your promotion uses five …

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Demanding Manager?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 20:50:38 +0000

It’s probably not a stretch to say we’ve all worked with a demanding manager at some point. Perhaps several. From a hiring perspective, it would be good to know how an applicant dealt with this kind of thing. A starting point could be: “Frank, describe the most demanding manager you’ve worked with and how you …

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If You Didn’t Have To Work At All…

Stan Dubin — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 19:28:29 +0000

This is an interesting question to ask an applicant: “If you didn’t have to work at all, what would you do?” You could break this down into two different scenarios. I’m sure you can come up with others, but here are two: “Frank, you have money coming in every month for the rest of your …

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Will They Ask For Advice?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 19:04:33 +0000

When I was five years old, I reached up to touch the stove curious what was up there. I screamed in pain when my fingers were scorched, and I realized that was probably not worth repeating. The physical universe has a way of teaching us a lesson here and there. Our parents were also around …

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How Do You Plan Your Day?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 21:12:01 +0000

Now that’s a simple, direct question to ask. Some may answer they don’t really plan the day at all. They let things come to them. They’re easy-going. They take the approach that whatever’s important will present itself at the right time. They either went to Woodstock or wished they had. Okay, scratch that last remark. …

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Take The Interview Out of the Office

Stan Dubin — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 21:18:58 +0000

It goes without saying that the purpose of the hiring interview is to find out if your applicant is the right person for your company and for the position you need filled. Your standard interview is going to take place in the office and you’ll learn all kinds of things about your applicant in that …

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“It Doesn’t Sound Like You’re a Top Performer”

Stan Dubin — Sun, 17 Feb 2019 22:45:42 +0000

One way to find out how an applicant will perform under pressure is to enter a bit of pressure in the interview. So, how would you do that? You could discuss the position for awhile, get some good back and forth going, ask what qualities the applicant brings, how they might handle various situations and …

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How Would Your Previous Employers Rate Your Performance?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 20:42:34 +0000

This is an interesting question to ask applicants. Asking this may not get what the previous employers would actually say, but it gives an interesting perspective on the applicant in front of you. It could go like this: “Alice, in looking over your résumé, your three previous employers were Acme Industries, AAA Insurance and Lehigh …

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Don’t Get Too Attached

Stan Dubin — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 22:23:42 +0000

I recall a client who needed to hire a new front desk person. This was a key hire as the front desk person handled all of the incoming calls and walk-ins. This person could make or break my client’s business, so it was a very important hire. Now, this tip may sound like a commercial …

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Take Me Through Your Résumé

Stan Dubin — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 22:15:20 +0000

Here’s an interesting approach to an interview. You and the applicant both have a copy of the résumé. Ask her to walk you through it. The applicant might not grasp immediately what you’re asking of her, so you might say this: “Alice, you’ve got a number of items here on your résumé. I’d like you …

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What Skills, Knowledge and Personality Traits Are Needed For Each Position?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 19:59:24 +0000

In addition to the skills that are required for a particular position, what knowledge and personality traits are needed? Let’s look at the skills that would be needed for an Office Manager: • The ability to manage others. • The ability to assign specific tasks within certain time requirements and the ability to follow up …

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Practice, Practice, Practice

Stan Dubin — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 16:57:42 +0000

This tip applies more to someone who is just getting started doing interviews. But it could also be helpful to the seasoned interviewer. The best musicians practice. The best professional athletes practice. Smart businessmen and women practice a presentation before they deliver it. When it comes to musicians and athletes, they’ll likely spend thousands of …

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Can They Improve Things Around Them?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 20:09:55 +0000

We’ve got employees who come to work to do their job and if things aren’t going quite right around them, they’re inclined to keep themselves focused on their own work and their own workspace. And then we have the employee who can’t keep his nose out of everybody’s business. “Oh, Frank, don’t you think you …

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You Are Hiring Them, Not Their Skills

Stan Dubin — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 21:04:03 +0000

You are of course looking for skilled individuals to fill skilled positions. You want people who know what they’re supposed to do, who are attentive to the details of what is needed and wanted, who know how to problem solve situations as they come up, and who can and do produce a valuable product. That …

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Can They Adapt?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 22:48:21 +0000

How your applicant can adapt and how he can adapt things around him are worthwhile subjects to address in the interview.

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Reference Checks — Some Dos and Some Don’ts

Stan Dubin — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 22:29:18 +0000

The more you know about someone BEFORE you hire them, the better your hiring decision will be. Reference checks can be of real help on this.

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Are You Reading Your Company’s Reviews?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 22:01:41 +0000

Your prospective employees are able to find out a fair amount about your company before they apply for a job with you. Some of this information is basic information about your company, its location, number of employees, hours of operation and things like that. But many sites are available now that contain reviews of your …

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Do You Cherish Your High Performers?

Stan Dubin — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 21:49:40 +0000

Losing a high performer can put considerable stress on replacing them

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How Clearly Can You Define the Position?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 21:41:02 +0000

The most specific you are, the more likely person you need will apply.

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How Optimistic Are They?

Stan Dubin — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 20:14:59 +0000

Here’s a simple definition of optimistic: “believing that good things will happen in the future” While we’re at it, let’s look at a definition of pessimistic: “expecting that bad things will happen in the future or that something will have a bad result.” You may be thinking, “what’s the big deal? Some people are optimistic, …

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How Well Do They Follow Instructions?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 21:56:42 +0000

One of the three tests we administer is the Aptitude Test. This test measures the ability to follow instructions, both written and verbal. Of the many we have tested, over half have failed. This failure rate is applicable to all industries and professions and is not specific to any demographic category. Over half of those …

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Who Is Controlling the Interview?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 21:27:53 +0000

Well, the obvious answer is “you are.” You’re conducting the interview and you’re the one in control. You’ve got some questions you want to ask, you want to discuss a few points on the applicant’s résumé and you want to dig in a little bit here and a little bit there to get a good …

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Employment Gaps on the Résumé

Stan Dubin — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 22:38:59 +0000

The résumé you’re looking at says the following: Acme Industries 2010 – 2014 Franklin Publishing 2014 – 2015 Looks reasonable, right? Well, what if your applicant left Acme Industries in January of 2014 and then started with Franklin Publishing in December of 2014? That’s a gap of just about a year. It’s worth a question …

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Your Successful Actions File

Stan Dubin — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 20:26:46 +0000

You’re learning a great deal over time…write it down. Review and share your notes. Rinse and repeat.

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Questions: Open-Ended Versus Closed-Ended

Stan Dubin — Sun, 15 Jul 2018 21:13:05 +0000

Sometimes we are adversely affected by the fast pace of our world and it can be helpful to step back, take a deep breath, and word our interview questions with a view of getting a closer look at the applicant.

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Fear Of Getting It Wrong

Stan Dubin — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 21:38:51 +0000

Don’t let fear seep into your hiring world. Learn more, ask more, find out more.

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When a Key Item Is Omitted From The Résumé

Stan Dubin — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:43:36 +0000

I ran into this comedy skit regarding an omitted item on a résumé. I ran into this comedy skit regarding an omitted item on a résumé.

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Written Questions Before the Interview?

Stan Dubin — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 20:38:14 +0000

This could add a bit of time to the hiring process, but it also may ultimately save you time.

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If They Can’t Follow Instructions, Get Them A Clipboard

Stan Dubin — Mon, 07 May 2018 23:48:37 +0000

Yes, I realize that’s a pretty strong statement: “If they can’t follow instructions” — but we do encounter people who are weak in this area. The ability to follow instructions is a key ability to look for when hiring. This ability covers written and verbal instructions. And, for a shameless plug, our Aptitude Test will give …

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Is It Possible to Hire Within?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 16:33:43 +0000

When you’re looking to hire for a fairly skilled position, is there somebody already there who, with some training, could be quite good for you? If so, finding that person’s replacement is likely going to be easier.

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Does Any Candidate Have Exactly The Right Skills?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 23:39:11 +0000

When you feel all you can do is compromise, consider changing your mind. The right people showing up, to some degree, has to do with your mindset.

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How Will They Perform in a Crisis?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 00:04:15 +0000

Talking about a crisis in the past or even in the future may not be the easiest thing for an applicant to discuss, but it may give you an insight into how prepared or courageous or considerate they are.

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Video Interviews for Remote Applicants

Stan Dubin — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 22:41:45 +0000

The video interview will give you a great deal of data that you would not necessarily get from one or more phone interviews. Use it as often as you can when working with remote candidates.

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Do They Like People?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 22:16:15 +0000

The more you can locate future employees that easily and freely like others, the better.

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How Do They Define Success?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 19:23:47 +0000

It’s going to be different from applicant to applicant, but if you can get in there and get some honest answers here, you’ll learn a great deal about your prospective staff.

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Can They “Sift” Through Data?

Stan Dubin — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 21:38:59 +0000

How your applicant “sifts” through data to make decisions is a good thing to know before making your hiring decision.

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Don’t Write Them Off So Quickly

Stan Dubin — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 18:42:40 +0000

Humans aren’t perfect — none of us are — and sometimes it’s a good idea to keep that in mind when making hiring decisions.

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When The Tables Are Turned

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 15:45:46 +0000

The ideal hiring interview will include a time when the applicant can ask you questions. I suggest giving a wide berth to the applicant here. Let him ask away. Here are some questions you might get: Pay questions: How much? Is there overtime pay? How soon before a raise? Can I do special projects to …

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Can They Prioritize?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 22:14:47 +0000

An ability to prioritize is worth pursuing. Things will run smoother and be more productive.

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How Generous Is She?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 18:25:27 +0000

Generosity is one of those traits that can increase productivity and improve how smoothly things run.

Look for it when you can.

Encourage and reward it when you see it.

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How Fearless Are They?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 19:47:32 +0000

If you’re hiring for a position that requires a bold and daring approach, zeroing in on “fearless” may get you just what you need.

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How Appreciative Are They?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 21:11:45 +0000

Ideally, you are looking for someone with a deep reservoir of appreciation, an appreciation of other people, the things other people do and even an appreciation for one’s environment.

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What Do We Owe You?

Stan Dubin — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 21:01:01 +0000

This tip has a simple focus. We just want to find out from the applicant: “As an employer, what do we owe you?”

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Should We Stop Looking For Team Players?

Stan Dubin — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 23:49:48 +0000

When you encounter a recommendation to undervalue qualities that you know are essential to your way of doing things, think twice and even a third time before you accept that advice.

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Would You Let Your Son or Daughter Marry Your Applicant?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 17:41:42 +0000

I realize this is a pretty stiff measurement to use with an applicant, but it is an interesting one.

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Are Soft Skills Eroding?

Stan Dubin — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 20:40:34 +0000

Regardless of who shows up to be interviewed, do not compromise on the soft skills. Hard skills can be taught…the soft ones, not so easily.

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Sample Work Versus Probational Hire

Stan Dubin — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 19:02:08 +0000

Finding out just how your applicant would handle things IF he were hired is a great tool for your hiring interview.

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The Hiring Juggling Act

Stan Dubin — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 00:08:43 +0000

Presented with an applicant’s strengths and weaknesses, we are doing a bit of a juggling act in our mind. Actually, it’s a two-part juggling act.

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Just How Much Should A Top Producer Fit In?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 20:13:54 +0000

We’ve heard for some time now the idea that new employees should “fit in.” They should be able to fit in with the company culture and even the company’s way of doing things. That’s a fair approach to hiring new people, right? You want your existing staff to feel comfortable with new staff coming on …

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What Are We Really Looking For?

Stan Dubin — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 14:11:36 +0000

What are we really looking for: someone to get the work done for awhile or someone we can count on to be with us for years to come?

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When In Doubt, Ask More Questions

Stan Dubin — Sun, 16 Jul 2017 21:20:49 +0000

When you ask an applicant an important question, don’t pass over an incomplete answer. Keep asking away, keep digging until you’re satisfied.

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Goals, Goals, Goals — How Important Are They?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 20:29:41 +0000

It’s good to delve into this area, but don’t make it a deal breaker.

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The People I Need Just Aren’t Out There!

Stan Dubin — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 21:26:49 +0000

If the hiring process has worn you down to where you don’t feel the right person isn't out there, don't help that belief along.

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What About the Diamond In the Rough?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 18 Jun 2017 20:28:25 +0000

What if the candidate comes in with a bad attitude and dressed for a street fight? Could this person be a diamond in the rough?

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The Second Interview

Stan Dubin — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 18:35:11 +0000

The second interview can be VERY helpful. Applicants are usually more comfortable, more “themselves” and more capable of helping you make the right decision.

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To Go With Your “Gut” Or Not

Stan Dubin — Sun, 28 May 2017 21:35:22 +0000

Do your best to find out as much as you can about a candidate before you decide. When you do that, you may find your gut instincts coming through for you more and more often.

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Can You “Hear” Them Smile?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 21 May 2017 23:52:14 +0000

Pay attention to certain details in a phone conversation and your phone interviews will lead you to better prospects for the in-person interview.

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What EXACTLY Does the Position Require?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 07 May 2017 18:29:07 +0000

We all have a very good idea of what we’re looking for in a position. Get a bit more organized on this point, a bit more exacting, and see if this produces a better quality hire.

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How Do They Treat Other People?

Stan Dubin — Mon, 01 May 2017 17:48:04 +0000

How will your prospective employee treat your customers and other staff?

Will they be friendly, helpful and appreciative?

Or will they be tactless, dispassionate and cynical?

And how can you tell ahead of time?

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How Fanatical Should You Be About Hiring The Right People?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 23 Apr 2017 20:38:59 +0000

I’ve written over 150 hiring tips and almost all of them offer advice on “how to” hire someone. This tip will be a bit different. It will focus more on your viewpoint of hiring. I realize I’ll be preaching to the choir with many of you, but, well, I enjoy a little preaching here and …

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Have Them Turn The Tables On You

Stan Dubin — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 22:30:06 +0000

In many cases, anywhere from 90 to 100% of the hiring interview focuses on asking the applicant questions. The good interviewers will allow the applicant to ask a few questions as well. But what if we turned the tables here and insisted the applicant ask a lot of questions. “Robert, I’ve asked you a number …

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How Would They Handle An Irate Customer?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 16:30:34 +0000

This is a great question for those applying for a position that involves regular contact with customers. But instead of having your applicant simply answer it, why not see how they would actually handle it. There’s nothing like a live exercise to find out how skilled someone is, right? So, let’s set the scene: “Sarah, …

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What Does A Company Owe Its Employees?

Stan Dubin — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 20:48:52 +0000

Your applicant’s answers will tell you a great deal about their future expectations with you.

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How Long Do You Plan On Sticking Around?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 20:10:28 +0000

This is a question that just might cut through the canned responses.

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Getting Off to a Good Start

Stan Dubin — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 21:23:44 +0000

Finding out what your bright-eyed prospects would do to get out of the starting gate will likely gain you some welcome insights.

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Let’s See What You Can Do!

Stan Dubin — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 17:00:46 +0000

A smiling candidate with a good looking résumé is a good start. Let's see what she can do.

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How Much Homework Are They Willing To Do?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 22:45:39 +0000

Regardless of the position you need filling, asking your applicants to do a bit of homework is a great way to see them in action and to see how much they care about their first contact with you.

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Always Be Hiring

Stan Dubin — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 22:53:54 +0000

If you’re “always hiring” and keeping decent records of potential employees for down the road, you’ll likely find this makes hiring easier and easier as time goes along.

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What Does The Word Accountable Mean To Them?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 20:32:40 +0000

Instead of asking directly about being accountable, ask them to define the word. This may give you a better clue as to just how accountable they are.

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How Did They Improve the Workplace Around Them?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 13:53:10 +0000

This is a simple question and one that can yield excellent information for you.

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How Long Do You Hold Out For the Right Person?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 22:02:11 +0000

I’ve spoken with many employers and HR people over the years. They are usually working with two pressures:

The pressure to get someone hired and doing the work that needs to be done.

The pressure to hire the right person so that one or two months later, they’re not going through the whole process again.

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An Extra Set of Eyes and Ears Might Help

Stan Dubin — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 00:21:30 +0000

Have one (or more) of your staff come in and do a "mini interview" with your applicant.

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If You Had a Time Machine, What Would You Do With It?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 22:15:40 +0000

This is one of the many tips we provide with an innovative approach to gaining insights into your prospect.

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Do They Know It All?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 21:15:50 +0000

If your guy feels he’s got it all and there’s no room for new ideas, a new perspective, a fresh way to go about things, then bear that in mind when making your final hiring decision.

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Have They Ever Volunteered?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 21:22:41 +0000

If your applicant has done volunteer work, it can tell us quite a bit about them. So, if it’s not on their résumé, it’s worth checking into.

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10 More Interview Questions

Stan Dubin — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 23:08:24 +0000

In a couple of earlier tips, I provided 10 questions you could ask in the interview. It’s been awhile since those two tips, so here are another 10 you could use.

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Going With Your Gut Instinct?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 22:33:12 +0000

Hiring on your gut instinct can be a big success or an expensive failure. A conditional hire gives you flexibility while you hone your gut instincts.

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Is Your Hiring Interview a One Way Street?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 00:25:42 +0000

The more back and forth you have, the more you’ll learn. That doesn't happen as much when you are just asking away.

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Ask Him To “Make the Rounds”

Stan Dubin — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 21:42:37 +0000

Having the applicant "make the rounds" may give you insights you might not get in any other way.

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The Really Bright Guy Who Ruins Your Company

Stan Dubin — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 21:07:14 +0000

He may bring all kinds of great skills to your company while shredding the willingness of those around him. Therefore, you may not be happy with the net effect.

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Toxic and Non Toxic Hires

Stan Dubin — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 18:11:02 +0000

I saw this infographic today and just about everything on it looked helpful to the subject of hiring. I saw this infographic today and just about everything on it looked helpful to the subject of hiring.

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When All Else Fails…

Stan Dubin — Sat, 28 May 2016 21:21:44 +0000

When all else fails, gather up every ounce of resolve you’ve got and get the person you need.

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What If The Applicant Has Personal Issues?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 15 May 2016 21:00:07 +0000

Do you automatically disqualify someone because they brought their problems into the job interview?

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How Well Do They Collaborate?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 22:20:25 +0000

If your applicant feels collaboration is a valuable means of getting things done and if they genuinely enjoy doing so, you may have a winner.

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How Do They Handle Unpredictability?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 10 Apr 2016 21:12:51 +0000

When you' re hiring for a position that requires considerable poise in handling daily challenges, you might consider this tip to help you through the interview.

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Contribution Goes Both Ways

Stan Dubin — Sat, 26 Mar 2016 21:48:20 +0000

The best way to attract top producers is to convince them you know that contribution goes both ways.

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Asking Weird Questions

Stan Dubin — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 19:59:09 +0000

You could gain some interesting insights to see how your applicant addresses something out of the ordinary.

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Digging Deeper Into Your Candidate’s References

Stan Dubin — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 21:20:27 +0000

The best thing you can do to ensure you hire the right person is to find out as much as you can before you make that decision. Digging deeper into their references is one solid way to accomplish this.

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What Was Your Greatest Achievement?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 18:55:03 +0000

Making good hiring decisions is vital to the health of every business. If it means asking a few tough follow-up questions to ensure we get the real scoop, so be it.

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A New Spin on Checking References

Stan Dubin — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 23:06:05 +0000

You may get some very compelling insights from these interviews. On the positive side and on the negative side. Either way, you’re doing more due diligence and that can’t hurt.

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Have Them SHOW You How

Stan Dubin — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 22:03:27 +0000

The more you observe how your prospect will do things, the more likely you’ll make the right hiring decision.

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Are You Doing Just One Interview?

Stan Dubin — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 19:19:56 +0000

If the position is important, than you'll want to consider doing multiple interviews.

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Confidence With a Healthy Dose of Humility

Stan Dubin — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 19:07:32 +0000

If you’re keen on your applicant having a bit of humility to go along with all of that confidence, you’ll notice it in the interview.

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Did Curiosity Really Kill the Cat?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 14:40:53 +0000

From a hiring perspective, being curious about things is often an excellent quality.

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How Important Is "Attention to Detail"?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 13:53:56 +0000

It is an admirable quality when someone takes pride in ensuring all the pieces of a work action are considered and carried out.

Don’t overlook or underestimate it when you see it.

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The “You’re Not Qualified” Approach

Stan Dubin — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 17:29:23 +0000

Now this is probably more of a “trick” than an approach, but I read about this being used in a job interview and I can see how it could be effective.

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Projects Instead of Résumés?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 19:37:37 +0000

Maybe not "instead of resumes," but definitely worthy of discovery in the hiring interview.

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Would She Give Away 300 Loaves of Bread?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 23:23:08 +0000

Your applicant’s answer and her further explanation is a nice insight into how she thinks and might act down the road.

The post Would She Give Away 300 Loaves of Bread? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Customer Loyalty or Company Loyalty?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 21:19:11 +0000

Let's give a very specific example and find out what's most important to our applicant.

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The Demanding Manager

Stan Dubin — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 21:03:47 +0000

Most, if not all of us, have had the experience of working with a manager that was very demanding. Let’s find out how our applicant handled this.

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The “We’d Like to Keep You Here” Interview

Stan Dubin — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 22:02:44 +0000

An interview to help you hold on to your gems!

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If I Called Your Boss Right Now, What Would He Tell Me?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 00:09:39 +0000

We’re not necessarily calling anyone right now. We simply want to know what Fred thinks his previous employer would say.

The post If I Called Your Boss Right Now, What Would He Tell Me? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Long Do You Want To Work Here?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 19:08:57 +0000

Are you looking to hire that perfect or close to perfect individual that will grow with your company and 10, 15 years later is part of your “family,” someone you can completely rely upon?

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What Isn’t Fair?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 23:16:37 +0000

This of course isn’t the exact question to ask, but with some context, it can tell you a good bit about your candidate.

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What’s NOT On Your Résumé?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 21:32:10 +0000

I mentioned Richard Branson in an earlier Hiring Tip and I’m bringing him back for an encore here.

The post What’s NOT On Your Résumé? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Underpaid and Overpaid

Stan Dubin — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 19:01:56 +0000

You’re essentially going to ask two questions here. One question may get you several answers. And the other may produce a blank stare.

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“What’s The Next Job You Would Like to Have When You Leave Here?”

Stan Dubin — Sat, 23 May 2015 23:12:38 +0000

Reid Hoffman, the Founder of LinkedIn, believes the employer/employee relationship starts off with “a dishonest conversation.”

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Give Them An Audition!

Stan Dubin — Wed, 20 May 2015 21:10:14 +0000

One of the biggest challenges we have in hiring new staff is just not being sure what we see is what we’re going to get.

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“What If You Win the Lottery?”

Stan Dubin — Sat, 02 May 2015 19:50:06 +0000

If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say, “If I win the lottery, I won’t change a thing about my life!”

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Is Passion Overrated?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 22:47:48 +0000

Some companies concentrate on hiring people that are passionate about 1) what they do personally and 2) what the company does.

Companies like Google or Apple come to mind.

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How Can One Possibly Equal Three?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 00:31:31 +0000

Kip Tindell and the Container Store and how they created an enormous success!

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Let’s Walk Through Your Résumé

Stan Dubin — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 00:35:14 +0000

The key to the effectiveness of this tip is your observation of the applicant as he walks you through each part of the résumé—his résumé!

The post Let’s Walk Through Your Résumé appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Count the Number of Times She Said…

Stan Dubin — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 18:11:41 +0000

The point of this hiring tip is to add up all of the times the applicant said “I” and all of the times he said “we.”

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Why Did You Leave Your Job?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 22:01:46 +0000

To whatever extent possible, we want to cut through the rehearsed answer to this question.

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"Hire Slow, Fire Fast"

Stan Dubin — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 21:01:52 +0000

You’ve probably heard the classic hiring mantra: “Hire Slow, Fire Fast.” Let’s look at the pros and cons of this.

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What Do They Read?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 00:23:24 +0000

You’re interviewing a new applicant and you want to find out about their reading preferences. It could go like this:

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How Important Is a Smile?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 02:20:03 +0000

A smile can cut through a room filled with tension; a smile can sometimes blow away a person’s irritation; a smile can even make a person feel safe.

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Tell Me About Your Fellow Employees

Stan Dubin — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 21:59:32 +0000

Finding out what your candidate thought about his previous co-workers could be a compelling insight into how he will get along with your group.

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Are Younger Applicants Distressing You?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 21:33:19 +0000

In speaking with many business owners over the years, I am able to get a good idea of what you are running into when it comes to making hiring decisions.

One concern that is coming up is a particular attitude presented by "younger applicants."

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Hiring Tips From the Folks at Google #3

Stan Dubin — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 20:45:38 +0000

This is the last in a three part series regarding hiring advice given by two former Google execs.

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Hiring Tips From the Folks at Google #2

Stan Dubin — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 23:45:01 +0000

This is second in a series of three tips, in which we discuss hiring advice given by former Google execs.

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Hiring Tips from the Folks at Google #1

Stan Dubin — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 23:00:42 +0000

Nine interesting sets of "dos" and "don'ts" when it comes to making hiring decisions!

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What Does Your Candidate Want to Be?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:33:45 +0000

This reminds me of the age old question asked to someone much, much younger:

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Worded of course a bit differently, this type of question could be very productive in the hiring interview.

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The Hiring Revolving Door

Stan Dubin — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 17:45:20 +0000

Many of us are experiencing a revolving door when it comes to hiring new people. We read through the résumés, we conduct what we consider are reasonably thorough interviews and we may even check some references.

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On A Scale of 1 – 10

Stan Dubin — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 23:10:14 +0000

You could use the 1 - 10 ranking scale to gain some interesting insights into your candidates.

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Did The Prospect Really Say That?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 19:41:48 +0000

While watching a bit of news on TV the other day, a short segment was done for job hunters. The theme of the segment was: “what not to say in the interview.”

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Is the Prospect a Better Fit Somewhere Else?

Stan Dubin — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 23:11:01 +0000

What if your candidate isn't a good fit for you but would be a great asset for another company?

What if you you knew of a specific company where this would apply?

Taking this one step further, what if this specific company was your competition?

Should you make the effort to refer this candidate? Should you contact the other company and let them know about this prospect?

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The Problems and Solutions Interview

Stan Dubin — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 21:49:15 +0000

Let’s say you’re hiring someone for the Office Manager position. What are some of the routine problems for this position?

Gather together a list of at least three of these and then ask your applicant how she would solve them.

The post The Problems and Solutions Interview appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Interviewing Millenials

Stan Dubin — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 00:03:45 +0000

Working with Millennials may be challenging for some. Invigorating for others. Here is a tip to help you in the hiring process.

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Hiring the Salesperson, Part Six

Stan Dubin — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 00:39:23 +0000

In the previous Hiring the Salesperson tips, we covered preparation, motivation, prospecting, sales technique and closing.

In this tip, let’s discuss the salesperson who has sold something very different from you’re selling.

The post Hiring the Salesperson, Part Six appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

“Never Miss a Good Chance to Shut Up!”

Stan Dubin — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 21:14:30 +0000

This Will Rogers quote can most definitely be applied to those giving hiring interviews.

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You’re Not Hiring The Résumé!

Stan Dubin — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 19:44:30 +0000

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/hiringtips/Youre_Not_Hiring_The_Rsum.mp3|titles=You’re Not Hiring The Résumé!] Of course this is something you know, but how often do we see a fabulous résumé and then omit doing a thorough interview as we believe we’ve got the right person? Or worse, we conduct a hiring interview with the intention of ensuring this person gets hired. In other words, …

You’re Not Hiring The Résumé! Read More »

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Take Him For a Tour!

Stan Dubin — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 21:34:40 +0000

Let’s say you’re hiring an Office Manager. Fred has shown up for his interview and has Office Manager experience.

How do we know how experienced Fred is? Well, we can take Fred for a tour of the office. Here’s how it could go:

The post Take Him For a Tour! appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

What Did You Do When You Didn’t Know What to Do?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 18 May 2014 20:49:06 +0000

Most people have a pretty good idea of what’s expected of them. They’ve had some training for their position and ideally some apprenticing. But what happens when just don't know what to do?

The post What Did You Do When You Didn’t Know What to Do? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Are You Hiring Mainly On Skill and Ability?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 22:16:29 +0000

Today I read an interesting quote in a hiring book:

“Companies are notorious for hiring based on skill and ability, and firing based on fit.”

Certainly with regards to skill positions, I would agree with this.

The post Are You Hiring Mainly On Skill and Ability? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

The World's Toughest Job

Stan Dubin — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 20:19:22 +0000

A short video on the world's toughest job!

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Does the Job Align With Their Goals?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 18:18:56 +0000

If your candidate is very goal-oriented, it would be helpful to know how this particular job fits in with his goals.

The post Does the Job Align With Their Goals? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Did They Handle Employee Arguments?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 18:46:20 +0000

When two employees near you were going back and forth in a heated argument, did you take steps to break it up? Or were you more inclined to let them sort it out?

The post How Did They Handle Employee Arguments? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

"She Just Rubbed Me the Wrong Way"

Stan Dubin — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 00:31:54 +0000

Have you ever had a job interview with someone and you came out of it thinking:

“She just rubbed me the wrong way.”

From the perspective of making a hiring decision, what exactly does that mean?

The post "She Just Rubbed Me the Wrong Way" appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

What Was a Typical Work Day Like?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 00:42:34 +0000

“George, what was a typical work day like?”

George might ask for clarification and you could say,

“Well, I’d like to get an idea what you did in your previous job but from a different perspective than what is on your résumé.

The post What Was a Typical Work Day Like? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

What If He Is the Owner?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 00:25:51 +0000

We owners understand that the work day doesn’t end at 5 or 6 o’clock. If several key things still need to get done, it is often the business owner who gets them done. If a customer calls after hours, the impulse is strongest with us to get back to him and not let it wait until the next day.

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Disagreements With Management?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 00:44:25 +0000

All of us at one time another have had disagreements with our boss. So what happens when we are asked to do something we feel we shouldn’t have to do?

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Why Do You Want to Work Here?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 01:44:05 +0000

This is the classic hiring question. But it doesn’t always get the answer you’re looking for, which is simply an unrehearsed answer.

The post Why Do You Want to Work Here? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring the Salesperson, Part Five

Stan Dubin — Sat, 09 Nov 2013 01:14:25 +0000

In the first four tips on Hiring the Salesperson, we covered preparation, motivation, prospecting and sales technique.

In this tip, let's tackle the Holy Grail of sales: closing.

Of course, many sales leaders will tell you that 'closing' only occurs when all of the earlier steps of a sale are in place.

The post Hiring the Salesperson, Part Five appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring the Salesperson, Part Four

Stan Dubin — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 00:34:46 +0000

There are a multitude of different sales approaches and techniques. Some of them may be just right for your business, some may not. Some actually may inhibit sales if used in your business.

The post Hiring the Salesperson, Part Four appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring the Salesperson, Part Three

Stan Dubin — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 00:26:31 +0000

In this tip, we'll look at what has become a somewhat controversial subject in the sales world: prospecting.

The post Hiring the Salesperson, Part Three appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring the Salesperson, Part Two

Stan Dubin — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 15:51:20 +0000

In Part One we discussed how prepared the salesperson was for the interview with you.

In this part, we're going to take a different look at our salesperson's qualifications.

The post Hiring the Salesperson, Part Two appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring The Salesperson, Part One

Stan Dubin — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 22:52:59 +0000

The first you could do is find out how prepared your sales candidate is for his interview with you.

The post Hiring The Salesperson, Part One appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Why Would You Hire Someone You Don’t Need?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 16:13:38 +0000

Now that’s an interesting question. As if not one of us hasn’t hired someone at one point or another that we ended up not needing.

And that’s understandable.

In this tip, however, let me make the question a bit more precise: Would you hire someone that you knew at the time of hiring that you didn’t need?

The post Why Would You Hire Someone You Don’t Need? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Did They Handle Stress?

Stan Dubin — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 18:06:52 +0000

This is a superb area to discuss in an interview. Let's first ask our candidate what "stress" means to him.

The post How Did They Handle Stress? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Tell Your Company’s Story

Stan Dubin — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 01:27:33 +0000

If your company has a story, especially a compelling story, make it known to your applicants and find out how they can connect with it.

The post Tell Your Company’s Story appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Easily Do They Get Bored?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 20:39:45 +0000

It's not unusual for people to get bored "on the job" but I think it would be a good idea to find out how bored your candidate gets and how they deal with it.

The post How Easily Do They Get Bored? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Please Feel Sorry For Me and Hire Me

Stan Dubin — Sat, 10 Aug 2013 01:12:03 +0000

Many of us have interviewed the person who wanted us to feel sorry for them. They wanted to use this line of sympathy as a reason to be hired.

The post Please Feel Sorry For Me and Hire Me appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Describe Yourself in ONE Word

Stan Dubin — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 14:09:26 +0000

Asking your candidate to describe herself in just one word could provide a very interesting insight.

The post Describe Yourself in ONE Word appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Do They Criticize Too Often and Too Easily?

Stan Dubin — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 00:16:36 +0000

Some people spend a good deal of time criticizing those around them. This person will often tell us "it's for their own good" or "it's constructive criticism." They want you to believe they are doing you a favor by pointing out the faults of others.

The post Do They Criticize Too Often and Too Easily? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Can He Benefit Your Company?

Stan Dubin — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 01:49:44 +0000

You're sitting down with Matt who is interested in the stock clerk position or the telemarketing position or perhaps the Office Manager position.

You've read over his résumé and you've asked him several questions in the interview. And you've decided Matt's a decent candidate for the position.

Then let's cut right to the chase with:

"Matt, how can you benefit this company?"

The post How Can He Benefit Your Company? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Would You Invite Your Candidate on a Camping Trip?

Stan Dubin — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 12:50:31 +0000

Some of us are very close with our staff or a number of them. And some of us choose to have a strictly professional relationship.

If you are inclined to developing friendships with some (or all) of your staff, then this fact should also be considered during the hiring process.

What if you have a great prospect in front of you, the right skills, superb test results, a real depth of experience at the position but they rub you the wrong way? What if you cannot see ever inviting them on a camping trip?

The post Would You Invite Your Candidate on a Camping Trip? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

What Happened When Things Went Poorly?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 14:42:57 +0000

We all like to recall the good times. And we'd much rather talk about our accomplishments than our failures. From a hiring perspective, though, it would be very helpful to find out HOW our candidates handled the tough times. Did they cave? Did they relish the challenge? Let's find out.

The post What Happened When Things Went Poorly? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

What About Their Social Résumé?

Stan Dubin — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 21:58:53 +0000

We’re all familiar with the traditional résumé. A detailed presentation of the candidate’s education and work experience and perhaps the candidate’s vision of their career.

And this traditional résumé is very helpful.

If you are getting a ton of people responding to a job offer, I have an idea to filter those reaching for the position.

Let’s broaden the definition of résumé to include their social media presence.

The post What About Their Social Résumé? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Will They Fit In?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 00:33:46 +0000

We've heard the term "fit" for quite awhile now. Is someone a good fit for your company? Will they fit in? Well, it's worth a fast definition:

fit: suitable or good enough for something; similar enough to belong to a group

That second definition is interesting: Are you looking for someone who is similar enough to belong to your group?

The post Will They Fit In? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

New Hire Wants to Change Everything!

Stan Dubin — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 22:18:19 +0000

Have you ever made a new hire of an exceptional talent who felt he had the right to make wholesale changes? And then did so.

The post New Hire Wants to Change Everything! appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Important is Humility?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:38:02 +0000

With so many possible qualities to sift through in a candidate, how much importance should we give humility?

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Will Your New Hire Improve Those Around Him?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:21:36 +0000

If hired, will this person you're interviewing improve the people around him? And what exactly does that mean? In what way would or should the people around him be improved?

The post Will Your New Hire Improve Those Around Him? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Do You Have a Hiring Eye to the Future?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:04:21 +0000

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/hiringtips/Hiring_for_the_Future.mp3|titles=Do You Have a Hiring Eye to the Future?] Let’s say you’ve got just the right people working for you. Every key position is filled with someone that you trust and competence abounds! Even the less key positions are filled. Now you can put all of your attention on the other areas of your business. …

Do You Have a Hiring Eye to the Future? Read More »

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Group Interviews?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 05 May 2013 20:44:22 +0000

Group interviews could have distinct positives and distinct negatives.

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Attitude Versus Skills, Revisited!

Stan Dubin — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:10:26 +0000

Why do so many interviews fail to assess whether a candidate will be a good fit?”

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"Your Company Needs To Be A Bit Spiky!"

Stan Dubin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:45:16 +0000

Do you need spiky people in your company? Could you use an outlier or two? Someone who is not necessarily going to toe the company line and do only what he is told to do?

The post "Your Company Needs To Be A Bit Spiky!" appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Don’t Oversell!

Stan Dubin — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 17:02:19 +0000

There is a certain ebb and flow to the hiring process. You are selling the business to the prospective employee and she is selling herself to you. If that equation gets too one-sided, and you are spending most of the time doing the selling, then two things can happen:

The post Don’t Oversell! appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Collaborate!

Stan Dubin — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:48:11 +0000

What are the benefits to collaborating during the hiring process?

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Hire A Mom!

Stan Dubin — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 23:16:19 +0000

What do we know about moms that would make them a good choice in the workplace? Let’s take a look.

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The Two Sides of the Hiring Coin

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:42:28 +0000

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/hiringtips/Two_Sides_of_Hiring_Coin.mp3|titles=Two Sides of the Hiring Coin] There are essentially two sides to the hiring coin. Side One is the applicant who wants to impress the employer and land that job. Side Two is the employer who wants to impress the applicant and gain his agreement to come on board. Now these two sides may not …

The Two Sides of the Hiring Coin Read More »

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A Lesson From the World of Sports

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:36:22 +0000

A game is played to win. In order to win, individual players blend their skills and their actions with other players. Teams made up of JUST individuals, even those highly talented, often fail against teams composed of people who work hard on working together.

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Should You Let Your Applicants Know They Didn’t Get the Job?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:28:50 +0000

What can happen if your applicant isn't given "closure" on his request for a job.

The post Should You Let Your Applicants Know They Didn’t Get the Job? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

The Resumé

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:23:55 +0000

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/hiringtips/The_Resume.mp3|titles=The Resume] In an earlier hiring tip I mentioned a trip I made to my local Barnes and Nobles bookstore. While there, I looked over the books that were available for both employers and prospective employees. The number of books available on just the subject of resumés was staggering. And, for the most part, these …

The Resumé Read More »

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Under What Circumstances Would Your Applicant Ignore Company Policy?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:41:45 +0000

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/hiringtips/Ignore_Company_Policy.mp3|titles=Under What Circumstances Would Your Applicant Ignore Company Policy?] During the interview process, there are many questions you can ask. The Hiring Tips have provided a good number of these. Here’s another one you’ll find interesting: “Under what circumstances did you ignore or bend company policy?” Your applicant–we’ll call him Frank–may answer, “Oh, there were …

Under What Circumstances Would Your Applicant Ignore Company Policy? Read More »

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What Is LinkedIn and How Can You Use It?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:34:25 +0000

Using LinkedIn to help you hire better staff.

The post What Is LinkedIn and How Can You Use It? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law — Should You Respond to Inquiries From Rejected Applicants?

Devora Lindeman — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:29:06 +0000

Devora L. Lindeman, Esq., Partner at Greenwald Doherty LLP, is providing us with insight and information regarding the hiring process. Ms. Lindeman is a management-side employment lawyer and has exclusively represented managers and companies in federal and state agencies and courts with regard to their labor and employment needs for many years. Questions addressed to …

Hiring and the Law — Should You Respond to Inquiries From Rejected Applicants? Read More »

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What Does a "Job" Mean?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:21:10 +0000

Digging in and asking what a "job" means to your candidate can be very illuminating.

The post What Does a "Job" Mean? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Perks, Perks and More Perks

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:18:53 +0000

When it comes to hiring and holding onto your staff, especially top-notch staff, perks can be a prime consideration.

The post Perks, Perks and More Perks appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Should I Use Employee Testing?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:13:29 +0000

There are many types of employee tests available:

-- Personality Tests

-- Intelligence Tests

-- Aptitude Tests

The post Should I Use Employee Testing? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Interviewing the "Well-Read, Well-Drilled" Applicant

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:04:58 +0000

In an earlier Hiring Tip, I mentioned being in a Barnes and Nobles bookstore. I was checking out the "hiring" section and I noticed there were 80-100 different books on this important subject.

The post Interviewing the "Well-Read, Well-Drilled" Applicant appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

What Level of Integrity Are We Dealing With?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:56:40 +0000

Integrity is a very interesting concept. I may be old-fashioned, but I believe the subject has taken quite a few hits over the last few decades.

I also believe the concepts of right and wrong have been slowly but surely stripped out of our children's education, but that's a discussion for another time and another place.

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How Did They Get Along With Others?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:50:17 +0000

What's so special about fifty-two tips? Well, there's fifty-two weeks in a year and we now have an entire year's worth of Hiring Tips for you!

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Are They Willing to Promote the Company?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:42:50 +0000

This is an obvious question to ask someone applying for the marketing position. But what if the job being filled is Office Manager? Or someone in billings and collections? Or an inventory clerk?

The post Are They Willing to Promote the Company? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

The Boss Asked You to Do What?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:38:34 +0000

What if you are asked to do something unethical to protect the company?

The post The Boss Asked You to Do What? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Did They Handle the Rough Customer?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:59:34 +0000

What kind of experience do they have handling the not-so-cooperative customer?

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A Great Place to Find New Recruits

Stan Dubin — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 23:45:19 +0000

In an earlier tip, we discussed the merits of hiring a veteran. In this tip, I'd like to discuss another "group" that could be valuable to you. Athletes.

The post A Great Place to Find New Recruits appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law — Testing Just One or Two Staff?

Devora Lindeman — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:58:31 +0000

Can an employer do personality or other similar testing on just 1 or 2 of his or her existing staff to find out about them without also testing the rest of the staff? Is this opening the door to potential legal action?

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Terminations and the Law — Severance

Devora Lindeman — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:44:24 +0000

Do you always need to give an employee two weeks of severance pay?

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"Hiring Mistakes Cost Our Company $100 Million"

Stan Dubin — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:34:50 +0000

This is not your usual Hiring Tip, but I figured you might like to hear Tony Hsieh, of Zappos.com fame, comment on hiring mistakes his company made, especially when he feels the mistakes cost the company that large a sum!

The post "Hiring Mistakes Cost Our Company $100 Million" appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Reliable Is Reliable?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:48:43 +0000

We've touched on this subject in other tips, but have not addressed it directly. Let's do so here.

The post How Reliable Is Reliable? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

What Has Your Applicant Done "Wrong?"

Stan Dubin — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:53:03 +0000

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/hiringtips/What_Has_Your_Applicant_Done_Wrong.mp3|titles=What Has Your Applicant Done “Wrong?”] We’ve all made mistakes. Some of us have made more than the next person. The focus of this tip is not on how many mistakes one applicant has made. The focus is on how did he deal with those moments in time. Let’s look at this as if there …

What Has Your Applicant Done "Wrong?" Read More »

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Terminations and the Law — Payout of Vacation Days on Termination of Employment

Devora Lindeman — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 07:27:39 +0000

I just let an employee go for not meeting job expectations. She sent me a text message asking when I would be sending her payment for the vacation days she didn’t use. Do I have to pay her for those?

The post Terminations and the Law — Payout of Vacation Days on Termination of Employment appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Show Them the Money!

Stan Dubin — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 02:37:22 +0000

When someone has left a job and is now applying for a job with you, they usually want to know exactly what the pay arrangements will be. Even someone brand new to the job market may want the full scoop on pay.

The post Show Them the Money! appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

I Love This Guy, But I Can’t Afford Him

Stan Dubin — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 02:34:59 +0000

What about the person you want to hire because you know they'll be great for your business? You know they’re a perfect fit, they'll get along great with your staff, and they'll have a direct and positive impact on your bottom line. But you just can't afford him.

The post I Love This Guy, But I Can’t Afford Him appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Which Is More Important…The Right Attitude or the Right Skills?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 03:07:13 +0000

You're down to 2 candidates you really like. One has the right skills — the other a great attitude? Which one should you hire?

The post Which Is More Important…The Right Attitude or the Right Skills? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Important is Work Ethic?

Stan Dubin — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 05:37:14 +0000

When folks work solely and only to receive a paycheck, their self-esteem is usually not very high. And just as important, their value to your team is also not so high.

The post How Important is Work Ethic? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Are You Looking For the Perfect Candidate?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 02:50:28 +0000

When is holding out for the perfect candidate the best approach?

The post Are You Looking For the Perfect Candidate? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law — Appropriate Applicant Communications

Devora Lindeman — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 02:35:03 +0000

Question: I’ve been communicating with a potential applicant by text message. Is that appropriate?

The post Hiring and the Law — Appropriate Applicant Communications appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring People You Are Not Able to Afford

Stan Dubin — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:59:50 +0000

What are the options to consider when you need to bring high-priced talent on board?

The post Hiring People You Are Not Able to Afford appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

What Kind of Manager Are You?

Stan Dubin — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 01:15:43 +0000

Before you require certain qualities in your new staff, make sure your management style is compatible with them.

The post What Kind of Manager Are You? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Committed Are They?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:10:57 +0000

Is your applicant looking for a short term job while keeping their eye out for something better, or are they serious about staying with you for a good period of time?

The post How Committed Are They? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law — Terminations and the Law

Devora Lindeman — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 14:57:29 +0000

What do you need to know before terminating an employee?

The post Hiring and the Law — Terminations and the Law appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring Veterans

Stan Dubin — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 20:21:15 +0000

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/hiringtips/Hiring_Veterans.mp3|titles=Hiring Veterans] Should you consider hiring a veteran in the same way that you consider anyone else? Yes…and no. With everyone you hire, you should always put them through the same steps. You should interview them, carefully review their résumé, conduct employee testing, confirm earlier employment, and anything else you routinely do. But I have …

Hiring Veterans Read More »

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Hiring and the Law — Should You Provide Employees With Paid Sick Days?

Devora Lindeman — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:17:22 +0000

An applicant I’m considering hiring asked how many sick days she will get, but my company does not offer paid sick days. Are we required to do so?

The post Hiring and the Law — Should You Provide Employees With Paid Sick Days? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Ten More Phone Interview Questions

Stan Dubin — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:08:23 +0000

The phone interview is a great tool to use in the hiring process. Here are another ten questions you can use.

The post Ten More Phone Interview Questions appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Ten Questions for the Phone Interview

Stan Dubin — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:16:05 +0000

The "Phone Interview" is a great tool to use in the hiring process. Here are ten questions you could ask.

The post Ten Questions for the Phone Interview appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

3 Reasons To Use Phone Interviews

Stan Dubin — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:33:53 +0000

If you are not using phone interviews in your hiring process, here are three reasons you should.

The post 3 Reasons To Use Phone Interviews appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law — Determining Who Can Get Paid On A Salary

Devora Lindeman — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:39:42 +0000

Should you pay your new employee on a salary or on an hourly basis?

The post Hiring and the Law — Determining Who Can Get Paid On A Salary appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Eager Are They to Learn?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 01:43:03 +0000

How eager your candidate is to learn could be a huge factor in the hiring process.

The post How Eager Are They to Learn? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law —Independent Contractor Versus Employee? (2)

Devora Lindeman — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 12:25:34 +0000

From a hiring and legal perspective, what are the differences between an employee and an independent contractor?

The post Hiring and the Law —Independent Contractor Versus Employee? (2) appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law —Hiring a New Employee

Devora Lindeman — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 12:17:34 +0000

From a legal perspective, what is involved with hiring a new employee?

The post Hiring and the Law —Hiring a New Employee appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law —Should I Require a High School Diploma?

Devora Lindeman — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 12:16:28 +0000

When hiring, can I require a high school diploma?

The post Hiring and the Law —Should I Require a High School Diploma? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law —Can I Disqualify the "Unemployed"?

Devora Lindeman — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 12:13:34 +0000

When hiring, can I disqualify the "unemployed"?

The post Hiring and the Law —Can I Disqualify the "Unemployed"? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law —Independent Contractor or Employee?

Devora Lindeman — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:44:41 +0000

This tip explains some of the important differences between an independent contractor and an employee.

The post Hiring and the Law —Independent Contractor or Employee? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

An Ethical Workplace Attracts Ethical Staff

Stan Dubin — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 05:40:27 +0000

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/hiringtips/Attracting_Ethical_Staff.mp3|titles=Attracting Ethical Staff]This next tip may come across as a bit mystical to some, but let’s see what you think. if your current workplace operates at a high ethics level, you will be more likely to attract new staff who also have a very strong sense of ethics. Exploring this a bit, have you ever …

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Hiring and the Law —Withdrawing a Job Offer

Devora Lindeman — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:57:38 +0000

Question: I hired an applicant for a special product launch who just told me she's pregnant and her child is due right at the start of the key weeks of the product launch. Can I withdraw the job offer?

The post Hiring and the Law —Withdrawing a Job Offer appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law —Setting Expectations for New Employees

Devora Lindeman — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 16:36:20 +0000

From a legal perspective, what are some ways to set expectations for new employees?

The post Hiring and the Law —Setting Expectations for New Employees appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Prepared Are They For the Interview?

Stan Dubin — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 05:40:50 +0000

When people apply for a job, the amount of preparation they do ahead of time ranges from none whatsoever to an enormous amount of preparation. You might find it helpful to learn what someone does to prepare for that interview with you.

The post How Prepared Are They For the Interview? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law —Hiring Employees With Non-Solicitation and Other Such Agreements

Devora Lindeman — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 19:10:09 +0000

The salesperson I want to hire has a non-solicitation/ non-competition agreement with a prior employer. Can I hire her?

The post Hiring and the Law —Hiring Employees With Non-Solicitation and Other Such Agreements appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring People Just Like You?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 06:00:03 +0000

We'll discuss the pros and cons of hiring people just like you.

The post Hiring People Just Like You? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

The Importance of "Team" Players

Stan Dubin — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:15:09 +0000

How important is a team player when considering a new applicant?

The post The Importance of "Team" Players appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Discuss the Purpose of the Company

Stan Dubin — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:41:28 +0000

Do you have a clean statement of your company's purpose? If not, take some time and put that together. Here are a couple of examples.

The post Discuss the Purpose of the Company appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Much Does Appearance Matter?

Stan Dubin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:47:12 +0000

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/hiringtips/Importance_of_Appearance.mp3|titles=How Much Does Appearance Matter?]When you walk into a room to interview a new applicant, what is the first thing you notice? Almost always, it’s the person’s appearance, right? If the person is very well-dressed and well-groomed, that makes a very good impression, right? Of course. Let’s look at a couple of examples with Steve …

How Much Does Appearance Matter? Read More »

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The Power of Observation

Stan Dubin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:47:55 +0000

Being very observant of how your applicant answers your questions is sometimes more revealing than the answers themselves.

The post The Power of Observation appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

What Do You Do When They Beg For the Job?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:48:44 +0000

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/hiringtips/The_Begging_Applicant.mp3|titles=What to Do When the Applicant Begs]Did you ever have someone apply for a job and practically beg you to come through for them? If the person isn’t qualified for the position, then the decision is usually pretty straightforward. But what if you’ve gone through a group of applicants and you’ve whittled it down to …

What Do You Do When They Beg For the Job? Read More »

The post What Do You Do When They Beg For the Job? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Flexible Are They?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:54:51 +0000

When considering a new hire, examine how flexible the applicant is.

The post How Flexible Are They? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law – What About Pre-Screening Questions?

Devora Lindeman — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:14:25 +0000

When hiring, what kind of "pre-screening" questions may I ask?

The post Hiring and the Law – What About Pre-Screening Questions? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Good Are Their Problem Solving Skills?

Stan Dubin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:55:37 +0000

There are other types of problem-solving that we're interested in. Here are a few examples you could discuss with your applicant.

The post How Good Are Their Problem Solving Skills? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Does Your Applicant Define Success?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 01:11:28 +0000

How your applicant defines success could be a real eye-opener for you.

The post How Does Your Applicant Define Success? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Part-Time Versus Full-Time

Stan Dubin — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 05:55:15 +0000

Why you might consider a part-time hire over full-time.

The post Part-Time Versus Full-Time appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law – Can I Ask About Pregnancy?

Devora Lindeman — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 10:40:25 +0000

I’m hiring for a job that will require extensive training to get the new hire up to speed and have gotten burned when a new hire did not disclose she was pregnant. Can I ask the female applicants if they are pregnant, when I can’t have them go on maternity leave within their first year of hire?

The post Hiring and the Law – Can I Ask About Pregnancy? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Your Existing Staff Can Help

Stan Dubin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:56:04 +0000

If you have key staff whose opinion you value, here's how they can help you make hiring decisions.

The post Your Existing Staff Can Help appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Describing What You Need and Want

Stan Dubin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:45:58 +0000

In this tip, let's discuss how you can clearly communicate to your applicants what you need and want.

The post Describing What You Need and Want appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Wording of Hiring Ads

Stan Dubin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:56:29 +0000

How you word an ad should help filter the type of person who sends in a résumé or calls asking for an interview.

The post Wording of Hiring Ads appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

What If Their College Credentials Are "Impeccable"?

Stan Dubin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:05:56 +0000

Most folks know that a great college education isn't by itself an overpowering reason to hire someone. But sometimes we get a bit swept away by this part of an applicant's resume. A great education can certainly be a plus, but don't let it cloud your judgment. Focus on hiring people that are going to positive contributors in your workplace.

The post What If Their College Credentials Are "Impeccable"? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Did They Handle Conflicts?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:20:44 +0000

Sometimes employees have to deal with a particular type of conflict that can come up in the workplace: The customer believes he is entitled to something but company policy does not permit it.

The post How Did They Handle Conflicts? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Do They Have An Entrepreneurial Spirit?

Stan Dubin — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:58:16 +0000

Then there are business owners who like working with people who stretch the envelope.

The post Do They Have An Entrepreneurial Spirit? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Ask VERY Specific Questions

Stan Dubin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:35:49 +0000

Asking prospective employees VERY specific questions can be very helpful.

The post Ask VERY Specific Questions appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Who Do They Think Is Successful?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:58:43 +0000

Asking prospective employees who they find successful or admire can often provide superb insights.

The post Who Do They Think Is Successful? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Does Your Applicant View the Future?

Stan Dubin — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:38:20 +0000

Finding out how your applicant views the future with your company can help you make a hiring decision.

The post How Does Your Applicant View the Future? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Would They Feel About Being Paid Too Much?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:00:36 +0000

Here's an interesting scenario to help you gain an insight into your prospective employee.

The post How Would They Feel About Being Paid Too Much? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law – Do I Need an Employment Contract?

Devora Lindeman — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:12:33 +0000

When hiring a new employee, is an employment contract necessary?

The post Hiring and the Law – Do I Need an Employment Contract? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Important is YOUR Willingness?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:42:35 +0000

What does YOUR willingness have to do with the hiring process?

The post How Important is YOUR Willingness? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

How Important is Willingness?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:10:00 +0000

How important is the willingness of the applicant?

The post How Important is Willingness? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Are They Willing to Go the Distance?

Stan Dubin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:43:06 +0000

How much does the person want the company to succeed and how far will they go to make that happen?

The post Are They Willing to Go the Distance? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Should You Hire a Friend of Yours?

Stan Dubin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:36:26 +0000

What are the possible pitfalls of hiring a friend or family member?

The post Should You Hire a Friend of Yours? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law – Hiring People With Disabilities

Devora Lindeman — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 01:08:30 +0000

When someone has a disability, you need to treat that applicant like any other.

The post Hiring and the Law – Hiring People With Disabilities appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep

Stan Dubin — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:48:19 +0000

We'll discuss some promises you may not want to make.

The post Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Do They Have a Sense of Humor?

Stan Dubin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:01:40 +0000

Is a sense of humor a key trait for your prospective employee?

The post Do They Have a Sense of Humor? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Interview, Interview, Interview

Stan Dubin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:00:32 +0000

Just how much interviewing should you do?

The post Interview, Interview, Interview appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law – Do I Pay For a "Working Interview"?

Devora Lindeman — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 02:14:25 +0000

I'm looking to hire a receptionist and have selected a likely candidate. A colleague suggested I do a "working interview" with him. That sounded like a good idea. Do I have to pay him for "working"?

The post Hiring and the Law – Do I Pay For a "Working Interview"? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Be Inclusive Right From the Start

Stan Dubin — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 05:39:42 +0000

I read an article in Inc. Magazine that discussed how some companies are helping new staff when they first come on board. One involved a moving company in Massachusetts. This company started a program for new recruits where they raced up and down a thousand steps at Harvard University’s stadium. Afterwards the owner gave an …

Be Inclusive Right From the Start Read More »

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What Do They Read?

Stan Dubin — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 05:38:07 +0000

I like the idea of discussing a wide range of subjects with prospective employees. With that in mind, one question you could ask is simply: “What do you read?” Be prepared for all kinds of answers to this question. A few may even ask, “What do you mean?” “Well, Bob, I’m curious what you read. …

What Do They Read? Read More »

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Blame It On the Economy and Watch Your Profits Sink

Stan Dubin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:07:32 +0000

When we launched the Hiring Tips Blog, I mentioned that I’d provide some other types of tips from time-to-time. This particular business tip has received a tremendous amount of positive feedback, so I’d like to make it available to you here. It makes good sense to pay attention to economic indicators. But a weakening economy …

Blame It On the Economy and Watch Your Profits Sink Read More »

The post Blame It On the Economy and Watch Your Profits Sink appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law – More On What Questions You Can Ask

Devora Lindeman — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:45:53 +0000

If I only can ask job applicants “business related questions,” how can I ask them questions aimed at getting to know them better, such as what books they like to read or what they do in their spare time?

The post Hiring and the Law – More On What Questions You Can Ask appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

"Not My Responsibility!"

Stan Dubin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:01:19 +0000

[As mentioned, in addition to providing you with “hiring tips,” we’ll also provide tips on the subject of staff performance.] Every so often, I like to spend an hour or so at my local Barnes and Nobles or Borders bookstore. I can be seen enjoying a mocha or caramel Frappucino while typing away at my …

"Not My Responsibility!" Read More »

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The Hiring "Pie"

Stan Dubin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:00:57 +0000

I see the hiring process as pieces of a pie. Each piece can help you make a better decision.

The post The Hiring "Pie" appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Using Google, Yahoo and Bing

Stan Dubin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 05:33:15 +0000

Another way to find out more about your prospective employee is to perform a Google search.

The post Using Google, Yahoo and Bing appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Discuss the Purpose of The Position

Stan Dubin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 05:32:37 +0000

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/hiringtips/Discuss_the_Purpose_of_the_Position.mp3|titles=“Discuss the Purpose of The Position”]Do you have a clear statement of the purpose of each position in your company? If not, take a bit of time and put this together. As an example, a rough statement of the purpose of an Office Manager would be to ensure: The specific duties of each staff member …

Discuss the Purpose of The Position Read More »

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An Easy and Powerful Way to Improve Staff Performance

Stan Dubin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 05:31:51 +0000

[As mentioned, in addition to providing you with “hiring tips,” we’ll also provide tips to help you improve staff performance.] To increase performance these days, some companies send their staff to motivational seminars. These seminars can get good results, but if they are mainly “motivational,” we often see the effects wear off in days or …

An Easy and Powerful Way to Improve Staff Performance Read More »

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A Key Question to Ask Prospective Employees

Stan Dubin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 05:31:04 +0000

There are a number of questions employers ask prospective employees, but a very key question to ask is:

"In your previous positions what did you PRODUCE?"

Yes, you should be interested in what positions the person held previously. But you want to narrow in on what the person produced.

The post A Key Question to Ask Prospective Employees appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Have Them Work for a Month On a Conditional Basis

Stan Dubin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 05:30:07 +0000

Have your applicant work for an entire month on a conditional basis. He can leave at the end. You can let him go.

The post Have Them Work for a Month On a Conditional Basis appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Have Him Work for a Day

Stan Dubin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 05:29:30 +0000

One idea that has been found successful is to have him work for a full day. Or maybe even several days. Give him a fairly quick understanding of what's needed and get him rolling.

The post Have Him Work for a Day appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Don’t Hire "Bad Apples"

Stan Dubin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 05:28:59 +0000

What about the prospective staff who look and sound great but a month or so down the road quit unexpectedly or compel the owner to fire them?

The post Don’t Hire "Bad Apples" appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Hiring and the Law – What Questions Can You Ask?

Devora Lindeman — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:18:39 +0000

Why can’t I ask certain questions in a hiring interview if I want to know all I can about my prospective employee?

The post Hiring and the Law – What Questions Can You Ask? appeared first on Employee Testing Center.

Bringing New Hires ‘Into the Fold’

Stan Dubin — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 06:02:04 +0000

[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/hiringtips/Bringing_New_Hires_Into_the_Fold.mp3|titles=Bringing New Hires Into the Fold]Let’s say you have a pressing need to fill a position. You put the word out, interview some applicants, and you hire the person most suited for the job. You then give this new hire an explanation of what’s needed and wanted and send them off to their work area. …

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Welcome To The Hiring Tips!

Stan Dubin — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 22:01:07 +0000

Hello and thank you for stopping by. I’m Stan Dubin, the Executive Director of The Employee Testing Center. Our employee testing service has been helping companies make better hiring decisions for over ten years now. Whether you use our service or not, I decided a running collection of “Hiring Tips” would be helpful. If you’d like …

Welcome To The Hiring Tips! Read More »

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