5 Tips for Evaluating, Interviewing & Onboarding in a Virtual World 

With preparation, organization and a solid internet connection, the process of finding senior executives in new ways can be more seamless than you think, according to a new report by BroadView Talent Partners. Here are five tips for conducting your next executive search.  

April 14, 2021 – It has been just over one year since COVID-19 changed how we do business, transplanting us from board rooms to Zoom rooms. While much of the world begins returning to some semblance of pre-pandemic life, the workplace as we knew it may be changed forever. Many employees are choosing to continue working from home while employers are considering hybrid work weeks and downsizing their office footprint. And the remote office is unlikely to go away anytime soon, according to a new report by BroadView Talent Partners’ managing partner and CEO Tracy McMillan. According to Mr. McMillan, this new and perhaps everlasting environment begs the questions, ‘How does an employer best evaluate, interview and onboard senior-level executives in this new environment?’ and ‘How do we mimic the in-person best-practices we came to rely on and adapt them to a virtual world?’ “While we are starting to see some final rounds of interviews take place in-person utilizing social distancing procedures, most of the steps before and after are remaining virtual, and with good results,” he said.

The crisis mode we’ve been forced to operate in is ending and the economy is stabilizing. “Executive searches nationwide are increasing, and candidates are ready to answer the call,” Mr. McMillan said. “With preparation, organization and a solid internet connection, the process of finding your next senior executive can go smoothly and efficiently. Most importantly, it can yield you the ideal long-term candidate whose leadership and vision are in line with the current lifecycle of your organization.”


Why a Flexible Workforce Matters Now More Than Ever
People working remotely is one of the leading priorities for HR leaders in 2021. Please take 2 minutes to complete our latest workforce survey. For participating, we will send you our survey report results later this month. Thank you for participating! Take the Careerminds / Hunt Scanlon Remote Workforce Survey!


Mr. McMillan offers these five tips:

1. Don’t rely on paperwork. A resume and cover letter are just the start. “Do a thorough job of referencing and pre-screening candidates early on to get the best story you can, including whether your position is the next logical step for this individual,” Mr. McMillan said. “Get a sense for whether they are passionate about leadership or just a subject matter expert. Gauge their level of relationship capital. Stay focused on the five most pertinent skill areas for any executive, including results, strategic vision, leadership, integrity, P&L/budgetary management and communication/relationship management.”


 Tracy McMillan has over 25 years of experience providing executive search, retention solutions and leadership advisory services to clients. He has developed a strong focus within the affordable housing, non-profit, and middle-market sectors, and established a track record of well-placed, long-tenured C-suite executives. Prior to starting BroadView Talent Partners (formerly HCGA Consulting Partners) in 2015, Mr. McMillan served as the VP of global talent acquisition for the NBA.


Digging deeper means putting a greater emphasis on social media screening and informal referencing than ever before. “The latter, involving the investigation of character, ability, intelligence from those in our proprietary network, can be tricky, but a good search firm can assist with the process,” he said. “Use the data points you uncover as potential areas to probe, making for more successful and fulfilling interview rounds. Remember, ultimately, every leader does not have to have it all. They must have a preponderance of it all and they need to be able to lead it all, while any gaps they have need to be ably and mightily filled by one of their direct reports.”

Related: HR Leaders Thrust into the Spotlight Once Again in 2021

2. Design a well-thought-out interview process. Mr. McMillan says to make it inclusive and involve each of the stakeholders who surround or impact this person’s success. From team members and direct reports to the full board of directors, each stakeholder should take some responsibility in evaluating candidates for the skills, abilities, attributes, competencies, and characteristics that the position requires. “Script it when necessary and seek to understand a candidate’s points of curiosity as well as why they made the chronological moves they have made thus far in their career,” said Mr. McMillan. “Be sure to combine both behavioral and practical elements into the process, allowing you a bird’s eye view into exactly how a candidate will show up as a leader in your organization.”

3. Take copious notes. Clients underestimate that many great business ideas come from candidates you decline to move forward with. Mr. McMillan says to be attentive, be a sponge and listen for ideas that can help you better lead and manage change in your organization.

Related: C-Suite Pain Points and Opportunities on The Road to Post-Pandemic Recovery

4. Take onboarding seriously. Design it as strategically as you do your interview process and structure and plan for on-boarding to last an entire year, not just the classic “First 90 days.” Ensure new executives are participating in senior leadership meetings to better understand protocol and preparedness expectations. “Establish goals after the first 90 days of watching and listening to determine how a new leader will be assessed for future raises, bonuses, and cost of living increases,” said Mr. McMillan. “Review and digest your strategic plan at intervals to determine how your new hire is performing against it. In short, stratify your onboarding process. How an executive is onboarded directly correlates to how they feel about the promises made to them during the recruitment process, and a poorly executed onboarding process diminishes and effectively reduces candidate tenure.”


 Setting the Pace for Virtual Outplacement

The process of looking for a new job after having been laid off has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, which has only been accelerated by the pandemic. Virtual outplacement firm Careerminds, a longtime leader in its field, has met these changing norms by focusing on two key aspects for individuals participating in its programs – the people and the technology.

“On the people side, programs in the past have generally been time bound,” said Careerminds founder and chief executive officer Raymond Lee. “One of the key components about our contemporary model is that we work with participants through the entire process. We provide proactive outreach, proactive coaching, all the way until the participant lands in their new job. As for technology, we’ve incorporated artificial intelligence and machine learning into the process, which really has an impact and provides a dynamic user experience for the participant who’s going through a career transition.” It is a contemporary model that aligns with current job search norms.


5. When conducting your interview process, please remember you are giving a candidate a snapshot of who you are as an organization. Even in a virtual world, with every interview process you are branding your organization, according to Mr. McMillan. This includes providing insight into how you operate, conduct meetings, and make decisions. The candidate is always watching and forming an opinion. “You are continuously exposing the inner workings of your organization and ultimately want to put forth an honest image that will attract the right individual to your organization,” he said.

Screening, interviewing and onboarding at the executive level is a lengthy and challenging process. “However, with intention and strategy, the right leadership for your organization can be found and successfully onboarded even without a tangible board room,” Mr. McMillan said. “As leaders, we must remind ourselves that with chaos and change comes opportunity. Organizations and leaders that master COVID-19, as well as virtual interviewing and onboarding processes will attract, recruit and retain the best talent available in the marketplace, delivering consistent ROI for many years to come.”

Related: Keys to Leading Your Remote Teams

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

Share This Article

RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments