This article is written by Kay Vessey, H&H’s Learning & OD Specialist and PRINT® Consultant.
Pre-lockdown, many organisations interviewing potential candidates would have done so in a physical, face-to-face environment. Since March 2020, we like many businesses with positions to attract new talent into, have had to be even more creative in the approach.
And this really has cracked open the talent bank for the better. The possibilities of where we can work from has become more fluid. The opportunities to attract people living further afield has widened. The speed and widespread use of video conferencing and online collaborative platforms has meant that the talent pool has now turned into an ocean.
As a result, we’ve attracted some amazing talent from all corners of the UK. Pre-lockdown only 4% of the team were based more than a stone’s throw from its Yorkshire headquarters. Fast forward to today and this has increased to just under half, with talent based in Kent through to the Lake District.
At H&H we’re big fans of PRINT®. It’s been an integral part of our people process both pre- and post-lockdown, and everything in between.
From the crafting of a role vacancy and selection and interview to induction, onboarding and beyond, PRINT® has always been an important element of our recruitment process. And why wouldn’t it? After all, it adds an additional layer to the traditional focus of competence and skills, knowledge, experience and potential.
Cathy, our Head of Consultancy, has doubled her team in the past year (there are even some new roles available now). I asked her how PRINT® has helped to build an all-star squad.
What impact has PRINT® had on the recruitment process for you?
“PRINT® has allowed us to have pre-offer conversations with candidates about what motivates and drives them. So, we’ve been able to explore together how their natural strengths will help them in their role. We’ve also explored the mechanisms candidates have developed for dealing with situations or tasks that might otherwise feel challenging. This has made it a hugely valuable final step in our recruitment process. And the conversations we’ve had have helped inform our decision whether to hire or not. Having seen the benefit, I now wouldn’t run a recruitment process without PRINT®.”
What does PRINT® add beyond the traditional interview of competencies, skills, knowledge and experience?
“Traditional interviews have always focused very much on the ‘what have you done before, what skills do you have now?’. Having deep insight into what motivates an individual, and what makes them feel resourceful and productive, allows you to explore how and why they do things the way they do.
“Critical factors like fulfilment, engagement, passion, potential, success and performance are all influenced by our motivators. Asking candidates more specific questions about how they’ll handle different situations also shines a light on role alignment – and even if they aren’t successful they leave the process with something useful for themselves. That’s important to us because we recognise the time and effort they’ll have invested during the recruitment process.”
How has PRINT® helped to integrate new people into the team and accelerate their knowledge, build relationships?
“It gives us all a common language to talk about how we like to work. We’re always keen to stress there are no good or bad, right or wrong PRINT® profiles. People have different motivators and drivers in the way they work, and we celebrate and welcome that. If we understand someone’s drivers, and are open to sharing and discussing them, it means we can shape the way we facilitate a successful induction.
“We always felt proud of our approach to inductions – it’s a three-month process that supports people to get fully onboard at their own pace, be supported in the right way, feel settled super quickly, and effectively work together as a team going forward. And as we’re increasingly recruiting people who are working remotely, it’s all the more important that we support them and make sure we’re right for them as much as they’re right for us. “
With so much debate about the future ways of working, it’s safe to say that virtual recruitment, induction and onboarding will be something many of us continue. As hybrid, blended, remote working or whatever you want to call it evolves, creating an environment where people immediately feel engaged and part of the fabric of their organisation has got to be a great place to start.
Recruitment is the beginning of a new employee’s journey with you. Integrating PRINT® into the process helps accelerate relationships with colleagues and leaders, enhances inclusion, drives motivation and champions people to be their best self, whatever the situation. And that sounds like a winner to me.
Want to find out more about PRINT® ? Drop us a message at hello@discoveryourprint.co.uk