We’ve all heard about the high cost of hiring the wrong person. How can you prevent these costly mis-hires? When interviewing, focus on the candidates’ qualifications and fit with the organization and team. Here are five interview questions and six techniques which will help you identify top performers in your interview process.

The hardest part about being a Recruiter, in my opinion, is letting a candidate know that they were not selected for the position for which they interviewed. Over the past six years of recruiting, this was never an easy task, nor does it ever get any easier and it is safe to say it is my least favorite part of my job. While recruiters should try to avoid developing personal relationships with their candidates, the Human factor of Human Resources always comes into the picture when disqualifying a candidate, especially if you have been working with them throughout a lengthy interview/selection process forming a bond. While these tips/techniques may not alleviate the knot in your stomach when you relay the unfortunate message, it may provide you and the candidate a bit more comfort:

It's that time of year again where every holiday imaginable hits at the same time: Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year's Day. Oh and let's not forget about Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Despite the holiday season, the business must move forward and there is still a need to recruit for quality candidates. This can actually be a great time of year to make strategic hires.

Do you remember when social media outlets such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or even MySpace were new and maybe even a little intimidating? Social media started out as means for individuals to communicate and share information, but has quickly crossed lines into the business and professional realm. This in turn has had an effect on Human Resources (HR) and its role in the workplace. Let’s take a look at some of the best benefits social media has provided for the HR industry:

Have you ever considered an Up or Out personnel policy? While traditionally used in the military and academics, I recently had a client shift their career development approach to an Up or Out policy in order to attract, retain, and motivate high performing individuals.

Your resume may often be the initial introduction to a prospective employer. In many cases, long before you have an actual in-person meeting, your resume has already said hello. And with such a competitive workforce, many job seekers have given in to the urge of tapping into their creative sides and doing whatever is necessary to make their resume standout. However, creating a professional masterpiece and a creative mishap are two totally different things.