It is easy to verify a candidate’s skills and qualifications before making a job offer, but how do you evaluate qualities that are not quantifiable like reliability? It’s not enough to have the talent to do a job, an employee must be able to be counted upon to show up, make valuable contributions and be a team player. Here are some strategies you can use to evaluate whether a candidate will be reliable if they are hired.
Focus On Reliability In the Interview
Behavioral questions that focus on reliability can help you get a feel for how a candidate has performed in the past so you can make inferences about future behavior. Include questions like:
- Describe a time when you were reaching the end of the day but you were not finished with your portion of a project or deadline.
- Tell me about a time when you had to stay late because other members of the team were late turning in their own work.
- Tell me about a time when a personal situation affected you at work. What did you do about it?
- Describe a situation when you missed a deadline. Why did you miss it? What did you do about it?
Check References Thoroughly
You can make inferences about a candidate’s reliability through the interview process, but the best resource you have are references. Asking the right questions during a reference check can help you avoid a poor hiring choice. Always ask about a candidate’s character, job performance, and reliability as a team member. Be specific in your questions and if you feel like you aren’t getting the answers you need, it is always acceptable to ask a candidate to provide more references.
Partner With A Recruiting Expert
Even if you take these steps, it’s always possible to hire an unreliable employee. Interviewing and hiring reliable people is part art and part science, and it takes an experienced team to see it through. This is where a professional staffing and recruiting firm with a long and proven track record in your industry can be an asset.
Recruiting firms spend a lot of time vetting candidates because they know their own reputation is on the line with every placement. They have the time, tools and expertise to conduct thorough screening and verifications so you can be sure a new hire is reliable.
If you regularly hire engineering talent and you’re ready to partner with a top engineering staffing firm to find skilled, aligned and reliable candidates, reach out to the expert recruiters at Selectek today.
