Reduce Interview Wait Time for Candidates
Editor | On 01, Jan 2010
Message: 1057Posted by: MM
Posted on: Monday, 6th August 2007
Hi,
I am looking for ideas on how to reduce the wait time for candidates coming to my organization. There are currently 4 rounds that they go thru and the approx time they spent on this is 9 hours. We do this in one day!!! So you can imagine how the candidate must be feeling at end of the day…especially if he/she is not selected.Appreciate all the help that you can provide.
Message: 1058
Posted by: QualityColorado
Posted on: Monday, 6th August 2007
MM, Good morning!
Does each of your “rounds” last 2-plus hours per candidate?
Best regards,
QualityColorado
Message: 1059
Posted by: MM
Posted on: Monday, 6th August 2007
Hi,
As per the ideal study (controlled state) done, 1st round takes 25 mins, 2nd takes one hour, 3rd takes 2 hrs and 4th takes 20+ mins.
In the round which takes 2 hrs, we are checking things like aptitude, tech ability, logical approach etc.
I have asked for the actual data (the one collected in daily routine and not in controlled state).
Will this info do? If not then let me know and I'll get the real time info to you soon.
Message: 1060
Posted by: QualityColorado
Posted on: Monday, 6th August 2007
MM,
I think the estimates will do — I was just checking to see if you really had 9 hours of “value-add” time in this process, but obviously, there is not. It looks like you have a little over 3 hours of potentially “value-add” time in the process; the rest (about 6 hours) is waiting / waste.
This looks like an ideal candidate for applying the principles of cycle time reduction — are you familar with these principles?
Best regards,
QualityColorado
Message: 1062
Posted by: MM
Posted on: Monday, 6th August 2007
Pls let me know about these principles.
Message: 1065
Posted by: Calam
Posted on: Wednesday, 8th August 2007
I am intrigued by the question in that a recruiting decision is a $1,000,000 invest ment decision (for any lower level professional level). How long should it take to be sure the investment choice best for the firm?
One option for maximizing the benenfits of the “waiting times” is to have the candidates review the interview questions for the next round. This enables to best prepare for it. I have found this helps the “best” candidates shine even better, especially those who are not as skillful at being interviewed – non-issue unless being interviewed is a role requirement)
Message: 1066
Posted by: QualityColorado
Posted on: Thursday, 9th August 2007
MM, Good morning!
Cycle time reduction is part of Lean Six Sigma (though it existed wll before either “Lean” or “Six Sigma” became business cultural icons). There are several good sources for principles regarding “cycle time reduction” — here are a few free ones on the web, to start out:
http://www.bettersandiego.com/CTR%20overview.pdf
http://www.abs.uci.edu/innovation.pdf (especially the very bottom)
Best regards,
QualityColorado