The Importance of Understanding Company and Role Requirements Before Hiring

The recruitment process often begins with a wish list that reads like an impossible set of contradictions. You want someone who can be both strategic and operational. You expect them to work autonomously but thrive in a team. You need a candidate with a holistic perspective who’s also detail-oriented. On top of that, you’re asking for over 10 years of experience, mastery of numerous tools, a creative mindset, and the ability to juggle multiple tasks – seamlessly.

These contradictory demands are not only unrealistic but also a sign that the role itself might not be fully understood. When hiring managers approach recruitment this way, it not only alienates potential candidates but also leads to a generic job ad. These kinds of listings tend to attract a wide range of applicants, but not necessarily the right ones, resulting in mismatches, high turnover rates, and wasted time.

The Pitfalls of Generic Job Ads

Vague and contradictory job ads usually result from two key issues:

Lack of Role Understanding: The person responsible for the ad hasn’t spent enough time defining the role or truly grasping the specific requirements.

Casting a Wide Net: Trying to appeal to a wide range of candidates dilutes the quality of applicants, making it harder to identify the best fit.

This approach is not only ineffective but also discouraging for candidates who see these ads as unrealistic and unattainable. The result? The best candidates pass on applying, knowing they can’t possibly meet all the contradictory requirements.

The Value of Deep Understanding

Before drafting a job ad, it’s essential to invest time in understanding the following:

– The Role: What are the specific tasks and responsibilities? What skills and experiences are truly necessary?

– The Company: What is the company culture like? What values and behaviors are essential for success within the team?

– The Ideal Candidate: What traits will help someone thrive in this position? What are the non-negotiables versus nice-to-haves?

By doing this homework, you can create a clear, concise, and compelling job ad that speaks directly to the right candidates. This specificity helps in attracting not just talented individuals, but those who are a perfect fit for your company’s culture and needs.

Intelligent Employment: Your Specialised Recruitment Partner

We know that successful recruitment begins long before a job ad is posted. It starts with truly understanding your company, your team, and the specific role you need to fill. That’s why we work with employers from the very beginning, collaborating closely to define the key requirements and even helping to ideate the job description. 

Once the role is clearly defined, we take a strategic approach to reaching the right talent:

– Targeted Advertising: We design multi-channel advertising campaigns to reach the right candidates. By focusing on the platforms and networks most relevant to your industry, we ensure that your job ad is seen by those who match the profile you’re looking for.

– Headhunting: With a clear understanding of the role and your company’s needs, we go beyond the traditional job market, seeking out passive candidates who may not be actively looking but are a perfect fit for your team.