How Long Does the Hiring Process Take

How Long Does the Hiring Process TakeHow Long Does the Hiring Process TakeHow long does the hiring process take in todays job market? That varies depending on a number of factors, says Matthew Rowles, senior resource manager at Kavaliro, a national staffing firm specializing in placing qualified candidates in the information technology, engineering, finance, accounting, administrative, and professional services industries. Factors include, but are not limited to these reasons, says RowlesEntry-level jobs Lower level punkts tend to move much mora quickly, as there are less decision makers involved in the process.Managerial jobs Managerial roles can move much slower as there may be more people involved in the hiring and interviewing process, and/or more background check and vetting of the candidate needed.Size of an organization Smaller organizations are typically more lean with less red tape to slow the process down. In larger organizations there are talent acquisition teams in place that review hundreds of applications submitted for a single job opening. Within those 100+ resumes there may only be a handful of qualified applicants. Talent acquisitions responsibility is to vet the applications and bring qualified candidates to the hiring manager, who will then decide to set up interviews.Arlene Vernon, a human resources consultant, management trainer, and speaker, says each company has a different process for how they handle applications, applicants, interviews, and selection decisions.I have clients with elaborate processes that take weeks or a couple of months to complete and other clients with formal processes that move along more quickly, says Vernon. Theres really no rule of thumb regarding time to hire. Sometimes it depends on the urgency of filling the position and sometimes on the availability of the hiring manager to find the time to screen, interview, and hire.Even though the job market has improved, this doesnt necessarily mean the hiring process will take less time, says Rowles. The improved economy can actually have the opposite effect as there are many people that find this as their best opportunity to make a move from their current position or company. This increases the application pool and can slow down the process, says Rowles.Other factors that influence the hiring process include how quickly the employer is looking to hire for the position, what the market demand is for the skill level required, and the length of the internal process, says Danann Smith, vice president of Robert Half Finance Accounting.Regardless of economy, there are some industries that may take longer in the hiring process, says Smith. Much of this is driven by the technical requirements and potential credentialing and certification verifications required.That could include industries such as federal or government jobs, which could require more security clearance.When applying for jobs, consider these factors that also play a role in the hiring proce ss, says SmithCompanies look at candidates well beyond skills match. Personality and culture play a large part in a hiring decision. This could translate into additional interviews with different employees at the company for buy in.Occasionally, other candidates will draw theprocess out longer than necessary by kicking the tires on particular positions or companies. While shopping for the right fit as an employee is important, stretching a job or company beyond the capabilities it has to provide could prove to be a waste of your time and company resources.Avoid applying for positions well below your salary range thinking you may negotiate a higher salary or jobs below your skill set believing you will grow the position. Most companies have budgeted salaries for the roles of their employees and look for candidates who will stay in the position for more than six months.When interviewing, asking the right questions about the follow-up process can save time- and stress. In many cases, j ob seekers forget or are not willing to ask questions that will give them an indication of the follow-up process with the potential employer, says Smith. During the interview process, Smith says its perfectly okay toAsk about the next steps in the interview and hiring process.Ask when the employer hopes to make a decision.You have a follow-up requirement as well. Handwritten thank-you notes following interviews are still the best and most thoughtful approach to showing interest in a position, says Smith.Following up, however, may not have the affect job seekers expect.In my communication with HR staff, following up doesnt typically speed things up for you, says Vernon. And theyre usually too busy to respond to applicants- especially in those positions where the quantity of candidates is large. However, if youre somehow connected or networked with someone in the organization or youve been referred by someone in the organization, it is appropriate to follow up with that contact.Vernon also adds this, from personal experience, When Ive done searches, it hasnt helped the candidate to contact me. I contact the people who are the best fit after looking at the normal factors of education, experience, skills, and compensation. The phone call doesnt make a difference.The key is to be patient, says Vernon. Remember this, she says If youre right for the job and youre a top candidate, youll be contacted.Readers, how long does your hiring process take? What have you done in hopes of speeding up the process? Share with us below