Survey Shows That in Hiring Process, There's No Substitute for Being There

Source: accountemps.com

September 11, 2008

MENLO PARK, CA - When it comes to making hiring decisions, most employers are from the Show-Me State at heart, a recent survey confirms. Thirty-eight percent of finance and human resources managers polled said that bringing in a candidate on a temporary basis provides the most insight into that person’s future job performance. The in-person interview was equally popular, with 38 percent of respondents describing it as their most valuable hiring tool.

The survey was developed by Accountemps, the world’s first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals, as part of its Global Financial Employment Monitor. The survey was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from more than 600 finance and human resources managers in the United States.

Executives were asked, “Which one of the following provides the most insight into whether or not a financial professional is qualified for a job?” Their responses:

• Performance on a temporary basis 38%
• Interview 38%
• Reference check 17%
• Resume and cover letter 6%
• Something else 1% 

“In today’s economic environment, employers are taking extra measures to minimize the risk of making bad hiring decisions,” said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Human Resources Kit For Dummies®, 2nd Edition (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). “Temporary and project assignments provide the opportunity for companies to observe firsthand an individual’s skills, performance and fit for the position before extending a full-time offer.”

Messmer added, “Technology has made it easier for job seekers and employers to connect, but there is no substitute for the human side of the hiring process. Meeting face to face provides a way to evaluate a job seeker’s communication abilities, business acumen and interpersonal skills, in addition to his or her technical knowledge.”