Screening is the commencing recruitment phase when recruiters shortlist the most viable candidates to fulfill a particular vacancy. Various forms of screening exist and range from simple conversations to exhaustive tests. luminablog.com offers several blogs about the recruitment process and which screening methods apply to your company. There are also companies such as Direct Screening that can help you in your screening process by doing background checks. 

Why Screening is important

When a company is interested in hiring a new employee, they need to screen all the potential candidates. Screening ensures that the candidate’s credentials, background, and references are all in order. Doing this process protects your company from candidates who may have a poor work ethic, are not qualified for the position, have ill intent towards your company, and prevent a significant turnover.

Methods of Screening

There are many different types of methods to screen your applicants. It truly depends on the companies preferences and what the job entails. Here are some to consider:  

• Simple Resume Scanning
• Cover letter
• Checking social media
• First Round Interview
• Aptitude Tests
• Trial Project

While it would be best to include all of these methods into your screening process, it is not mandatory. 

An example of a screening

The screening process starts with the review of the resumes. Then, check if they meet the standard requirements and can legally work in the country. You will also want to follow up on the references they have provided, making sure to ask how they performed in their last job, how they handled feedback, and any issues to be aware of. In addition, you can check the applicant’s social pages to gain some more insight into who they are. Moreover, check the candidate’s resume for any of your preferred qualifications; these may not be mandatory to have but would make them stand out. Once you have decided on your final candidates, arrange a pre-screening. The pre-screening process will allow you to ask the candidates any questions and assess if they would be the right fit. In addition, you could also provide a skills test which would help you gain more insight into how skilled the candidates might be. Lastly, you could also run a background check, ensuring they are not hiding anything that could be detrimental to your company.

Choosing the best method for your company

There is no correct way to screen potential candidates. However, there are a few things to consider when deciding which process might be best for your company. For example, if your company is large, receiving up to 100 applicants and manually sifting through their resumes can be very challenging, so it may be best to consider purchasing software that looks over the resumes and highlights keywords. Another consideration would be the type of industry your company falls under, whether your applicants should have a background check, and whether they should be drug tested.  Moreover, are you looking for someone to train to work the way you want them to, or are you looking for someone who needs no training? These are all crucial aspects to consider before creating your screening process.

The screening process is vital as it ensures the correct employee is being hired who has the appropriate skills, has no malicious intent, and can meet your expectations,  guaranteeing no high turnover. Therefore your company needs to create a screening process that is just right.