Unlocking the Power of Internal Hiring Academies
Most Technology businesses face challenges in identifying, attracting, and retaining high-quality people. They often spend a lot of time and money on attracting and approaching talent in order to fill their vacant roles.
The cost of poor hiring decisions is high, with the single biggest impact on hiring decisions being the quality of interviewing and interviewers.
There is a direct correlation between the quality of interviewers and the quality of hires. Good interviewers can not only identify the best possible candidates but also act as magnets for high-quality people.
High-quality interviewing serves not only to help select the best candidates but also shows candidates that they are joining an organisation that cares about who joins their team.
Most people want to join high-performing teams after all.
Developing an internal hiring academy helps in developing a high level of interviewing proficiency whilst delivering an excellent candidate experience.
Why Companies Need Internal Hiring Academies
The importance of hiring the right talent and the cost of bad hires
Hiring the right talent is crucial to the success of any organisation. Bad hires can be costly in terms of time, money, and resources, and can damage team morale and productivity. Developing a hiring academy can help companies identify and select the best candidates for the job, leading to better outcomes and a stronger bottom line.
The need for a consistent and unbiased interviewing process
A consistent and unbiased interviewing process is critical to ensuring that all candidates are evaluated objectively based on their skills, competencies and values alignment, rather than subjectively by irrelevant factors such as education, gender, race, physical ability or personal connections. By training all interviewers through an internal hiring academy, companies can promote a fair and objective hiring process that also attracts a diverse pool of candidates.
The need for interviewing proficiency
Interviewing is a skill. And like all skills, it requires practice and feedback to master. By providing comprehensive training and practice opportunities through a hiring academy, companies can ensure that all interviewers have the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct effective interviews and make informed hiring decisions.
The Benefits of Internal Hiring Academies
Improved candidate experience
The candidate experience can have a significant impact on a company’s employer brand and reputation. By training interviewers to conduct interviews in a professional, respectful, and engaging manner, companies can create a positive candidate experience that attracts top performers.
The spread of interviewing proficiency across the business
By training a larger number of employees in interviewing skills, companies can distribute the responsibility of conducting interviews and reduce the burden on a few key individuals. Relying on a small group of interviewers is inefficient and loaded with risk.
Increased efficiency in the hiring process
Developing an internal hiring academy can help to streamline the hiring process by reducing the time and resources needed to train new interviewers. This can lead to faster hiring times and a more efficient use of company resources.
Prevention of systemic bias in the hiring process
Systemic bias can have a negative impact on the diversity and inclusivity of a company’s workforce. By training all interviewers to recognize and address potential bias in the hiring process, companies can promote a more diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the needs and perspectives of a broader range of employees.
How to Develop an Internal Hiring Academy
Develop a comprehensive curriculum
The curriculum for an internal hiring academy should cover a range of topics, such as interviewing skills, candidate assessment, and bias prevention. It should also include opportunities for practice and feedback to reinforce learning.
Identify and train internal trainers
To develop an effective hiring academy, companies should identify employees with the necessary knowledge and skills to train others. These trainers can then help enhance and deliver the curriculum for the academy. This would most likely be an HR/People team-led initiative, with representation from most, if not all, departments within the company.
Incorporate hands-on practice sessions
Theory and practical sessions can be developed. Role-playing & mock interviews should be included as part of the practical sessions. We also recommend shadowing live interviews as a great way to observe and learn for new interviewers.
Continuously evaluate and improve the academy
To ensure the effectiveness of the hiring academy, continuous evaluation of the curriculum and delivery methods is crucial. This can be done through feedback from trainers, trainees and new hires, as well as through regular assessments of the hiring process.
Overcoming Challenges in Implementing a Hiring Academy
Resistance to change
Developing a hiring academy can mean a shift in current processes. This can be managed through communication of the benefits of the academy to all stakeholders, provision of feedback and suggestions and asking for volunteers to join the inaugural group.
Resource constraints
Developing an internal hiring academy can require significant resources and personnel. To overcome resource constraints, consider leveraging technology to develop and deliver training materials, or partnering with external organisations that can own the time-consuming elements.
Lack of buy-in from leadership
Without buy-in from leadership, it can be challenging to implement effectively. To gain buy-in, teams should clearly communicate the benefits of the academy and provide evidence of its effectiveness, such as improved hiring outcomes or long-term cost savings.
Ensuring the sustainability of the academy
Developing an internal hiring academy is not a one-time effort, but an ongoing process. To ensure the sustainability of the academy, some kind of hiring committee could be developed and resources dedicated to the academy over the long term.
Developing an internal hiring academy is a proactive way for companies to remain competitive. With the advantages of delivering an excellent candidate experience, increasing efficiency in the hiring process, and preventing systemic bias, businesses can develop a sustainable, long-term strategy for hiring top talent.
They will therefore be better equipped to overcome the challenges of the current and future job markets.
