Hiring

Keep bias from creeping into hiring process

05/27/2015

It’s hard to discriminate against applicants based on characteristics like age and race if you don’t know they belong to a particular protected class. That’s why it’s important to have a “blind” hiring process.

Beware the hidden risks of hiring based on ‘chemistry’

05/25/2015

We’ve all thought it: “I just have a good feeling about this applicant.” Relying on subjective factors such as interview skills and personality is not the best way to pinpoint successful job candidates. Yet a Society for Human Resource Management poll found that most HR professionals say their final hiring decisions are at least 50% based on “chemistry” with the applicant.

Is it OK to simply refuse to hire sex offenders?

05/20/2015

Q. After narrowing our search to one candidate, we learned that the applicant may be listed as a registered sex offender. We would just rather not hire this applicant. Can we legally do that?

Skilled trades again among the hardest jobs to fill

05/20/2015

Almost a third of U.S. employers—32%—report that they are having a hard time filling job vacancies because they can’t find skilled candidates.

Employee failing test? OK to end it early

05/18/2015

Generally, employees taking an exam required for promotion should be tested under similar circumstances, take the same test and generally be treated the same. But sometimes, especially during a hands-on test, it becomes obvious early on that the employee does not have the skill to pass. If that’s the case, you can end the test early.

Before you check Facebook, ask 3 questions

05/12/2015

The practice of searching applicants’ social media accounts for background information is drawing increasing scrutiny. It’s legally risky. When deciding whether to check applicants’ social media content for background-check purposes, consider these questions.

No more credit checks for many New York City job applicants

05/06/2015

Do you routinely conduct credit checks on job applicants? Are you located in New York City? Then here’s a heads-up: The New York City Council has overwhelmingly passed an amendment to the New York City Human Rights Law that would bar most city employers from using credit checks as part of their hiring process.

Where managers expect the most job growth to happen

05/05/2015

Seventy-two percent of managers are optimistic about their career opportunities this year, up 21 percentage points from 2014. They’re ready to act on that optimism, too—88% said they’re open to new opportunities in 2015.

What grads must learn to make the leap from school to work

05/04/2015

Recently we reported on the excellent job prospects greeting this year’s crop of college graduates—hiring of new grads is expected to increase 16% compared to 2014. But a freshly printed diploma doesn’t mean those new hires will hit the workforce ready to perform.

EEOC urges caution on criminal background checks

05/01/2015

New EEOC guidance makes it clear: Employers better be able to prove they have a good business reason for running criminal background checks on job applicants. That means it’s time for you to review your job applications and hiring policies—and start training hiring managers on what’s certain to be a major EEOC enforcement effort.