Holistic Recruiting: What Does it Mean?
Have you ever heard of a holistic approach? It may have been related to your diet, health, or your lifestyle in general. Dictionary.com lists two definitions for the term ‘holistic’. Let’s check them out: 1.)”incorporating the concept of holism, or the idea that the whole is more than merely the sum of its parts, in theory or practice:holistic psychology. OR 2.) Medicine/Medical. identifying with principles of holism in a system of therapeutics, especially one considered outside the mainstream of scientific medicine, as naturopathy or chiropractic, and often involving nutritional measures: holistic medicine.” Obviously in our case, we won’t be speaking medicinally, but it’s important to understand the whole scope of the term to familiarize yourself because trust me, we’ll be using this phrase a lot today! One awesome thing about this topic of holistic hiring is that it is another team member idea from a survey we held a few weeks back. We are excited to learn more about this topic with you and give you some helpful tips along the way! Let’s dive in, shall we?
What Does it Mean to Hire Holistically?
Before we really dig into the ‘how’ it’s important to further continue the ‘what'. What is holistic hiring? We spoke to recruiting to see if they had any insight. Here’s what they said: “holistic recruiting/hiring focuses on the employee as a whole, not just their professional skill set. The entire individual is evaluated as the hiring process, when done holistically, takes a very ‘person-centered’ approach. This means that companies that choose this method focuses heavily on their values and the values of the individual. They want their new-hire to align with their values and to have worked in companies with similar perspectives to keep their employees on the same wave-length. If they focus on any skills at all, it’s the prospect’s potential for leadership. Holistic hiring mainly focuses on the job seekers potential and longevity as they strive to place these candidates in a position of leadership down the line. Compatibility with the hiring manager, values, and other employees is crucial to the success of the company and will either negatively or positively impact the results of the interview process.” Oftentimes, recruiters and hiring managers alike focus heavily on skill-sets which, are indeed important, but what’s nice about a holistic approach is the entirety of the candidate is considered, not just their proficiency in Microsoft Office.
What Can I do to Hire Holistically?
During the hiring process, when taking a more holistic approach, here are a few things you can do to make sure you’re looking through the holistic lens, if you will.
Approach the Interview Process Carefully- Yes, an initial phone screening is great and definitely allows for those awesome candidates to shine through but it’s important to also schedule time and realize the vitality of in person interviews. When you meet with someone in person, it allows for a better, more holistic glimpse into their character, goals, personality, skills, and values. You can’t necessarily grasp the proper qualities that you should be looking for over the phone. And, when interviewing, take time to get to know the person. An in-person interview should not be a one hour interview, it should be in-depth, detailed, and intentional. When seeking a holistic approach, consider time with members of each department where they can get to know the candidate and they can give their two cents on whether or not this person will make the best fit possible. Take your time, but also be cognizant of the candidate’s time too. If you’re going to set up a 4-hour in-depth interview where the candidate meets all members of the team, that should be the only in-person interview. However, if you only meet for 30 minutes to an hour, consider scheduling another round or two to make sure you’re making the right decision.
Make an Effort to Ask about Values- While it’s important to note that the candidate is qualified for the position, it’s also important to spend some time talking about values. Holistic hiring is all about the big picture and qualifications don’t mean much if the candidate does not align with the company’s morals and values. Also, when speaking on values, ask about their work history and their previous companies’ values. By looking into their past you will see a potential future. If values don’t line up exactly to the “T” its okay, but just consider what you think your non-negotiables should be and go from there. If something is crucial to your company and that is a deal breaker, definitely find out more information from the candidate on the subject and see their view-points to better your scope of the candidate’s head space and where they align their values.
Hire both Internally and Externally- When you consider the hiring process, typically your mind first goes to an external hire. While this is definitely an effective and an option to explore, when thinking holistically, it can be beneficial to consider an internal hire. With hiring internally, you already know that the candidate aligns with your values, (hopefully) gets along with your co-workers, and has displayed leadership capabilities or not. So, if you’re trying the external route and are out of luck, take a step back, consider the big picture, and see if anyone already on your team could perform the job.
Focus on Leadership/Long-Term Goals- According to our recruiters, a great way to hire holistically, is to focus on the leadership potential. So often, people are great workers and take direction incredibly well, but they’re not necessarily cut out to lead a team or manage a department. It’s crucial to consider the longevity of the candidate before they sign on that dotted line. Whether you’re taking a holistic approach or not, hiring for the long haul will pay off and is something you should invest in to keep your company culture and retention rates where they should be.
Don’t Take Shortcuts- Shortcuts should be avoided for all facets of life, unless I-4 is bogged down...then you should take a shortcut. BUT, in terms of holistic hiring, leave shortcuts to road trips and make the extra effort. You’ll be glad that you did long term and will find that your employees and candidates will thank you too. Don’t settle, don’t overlook red flags, and don’t cut corners. Making things easier for yourself during the hiring process isn’t always a good thing, especially when you’re looking for quality. So, take the extra time, really make sure you want to hire this candidate, and check in with your team to make sure everyone is on board.
How do you hire holistically? We would love your feedback!