The Truth About Hiring the Best

The Truth About Hiring the Best

by Cathy Fyock
Released September 2007
Publisher(s): Pearson
ISBN: 9780132381864

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

“Talent matters. No one denies this fact. But, there is often a gap between wanting and getting talent. Cathy Fyock’s 53 ‘Truths’ provide concrete, practical, and well-tested ideas to close the talent gap. The ideas are reasonable, grounded in research, and actionable. This is an excellent book for those who pay attention to hiring. The 53 Truths offer a roadmap for doing this important task more effectively.”

Dave Ulrich, Professor of Business, University of Michigan, Partner, The RBL Group

“You think you knew everything you needed to know about employment until you read the most recent, catchy FT Press ‘Truth’ book by staffing expert Cathy Fyock. In only 224 pages Fyock effectively uses 53 ‘Truths’ to challenge many of HR’s long-standing assumptions and practices related to recruitment and selection. With everyone wanting to ‘hire the best,’ this quick read has a high ROI.”

Michael R. Losey, SPHR, CAE, Former CEO, Society for Human Resource Management

“Cathy Fyock knows there is no ‘silver bullet’ when it comes to successful recruiting and hiring–and that passive tactics do not provide high quality results. She knows the truth: Today’s low unemployment rates combined with increasing retirements of Baby Boomers spell trouble for employers hoping to expand. Her fresh approach shows the reader that there are numerous opportunities to connect with great future employees, and she provides practical advice for tapping multiple sources simultaneously, as well as interviewing and making offers. If you want to hire the best, this book is your guide!”

Nancy S. Ahlrichs, SPHR, President, EOC Strategies, LLC

Great business results start with great talent. Get it–and keep it!

This book reveals 53 Proven Hiring Principles and bite-size, easy-to-use techniques that work.

• The truth about finding hidden sources of talent

• The truth about making great people want to work for you

• The truth about interviewing: asking the right questions

Getting the best people for your organization is not only difficult, but the strategies for getting the best often are not obvious. To get the best you first need to identify who the best are, then determine how to reach the best, and then decide on the best among the best you want to hire. In The Truth About Hiring the Best you will learn: it's not just a job to fill; it's your organization's future that you're creating; getting the best isn't just about asking the right questions, it's about listening for the right answers; and great people don't want to work for desperate employers. It's a war for talent, and you need to win.

Table of contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Contents
  4. Praise for The Truth About Hiring the Best
  5. Introduction
  6. Part I: The Truth About Identifying the Best
    1. Truth 1. There is no such thing as the ideal candidate
    2. Truth 2. You are a seller in a buyer's market
    3. Truth 3. Catch the boomerangs
    4. Truth 4. Rehire the retired
    5. Truth 5. Job-hoppers could be show-stoppers
    6. Truth 6. Seek refuge(e)
  7. Part II: The Truth About Recruiting the Best
    1. Truth 7. It's a war for talent
    2. Truth 8. Maybe you don't want "new blood"
    3. Truth 9. Your actions speak louder than words
    4. Truth 10. Targeting everybody attracts nobody
    5. Truth 11. You are a talent scout
    6. Truth 12. The Internet may not be the best place for recruiting
    7. Truth 13. Use the enthused
    8. Truth 14. It takes a village to hire one employee
    9. Truth 15. Newspaper ads can be great when managed properly
    10. Truth 16. Your invitation might be chasing applicants away
  8. Part III: The Truth About Interviewing
    1. Truth 17. The candidate isn't the only one who has to interview right
    2. Truth 18. Ask what they will do, not what they can do
    3. Truth 19. Charlie might be more than just a great mechanic
    4. Truth 20. Passion—in fashion?
    5. Truth 21. Good candidates might not talk to you
    6. Truth 22. You're not Sigmund Freud
    7. Truth 23. Candidates and the truth—the whole truth
    8. Truth 24. Don't let the candidate's resume drive the interview
    9. Truth 25. Avoid the "hot seat"
    10. Truth 26. You can oversell the job
    11. Truth 27. There is such a thing as a bad question
    12. Truth 28. You're guilty until you prove you're innocent
    13. Truth 29. It's impolite (and discriminatory) to ask about age
    14. Truth 30. You wouldn't ask him if he's married—don't ask her either
    15. Truth 31. Kind curiosity can kill a career
    16. Truth 32. Avoid questions about religious affiliations
    17. Truth 33. Your mother was wrong; sometimes do be rude
  9. Part IV: The Truth About the Selection Process
    1. Truth 34. Have a vacancy to fill? You're already too late.
    2. Truth 35. Warning: this resume may contain spin!
    3. Truth 36. Your candidate may be a scam-didate
    4. Truth 37. The resume says "yes," but the body language says "no"
    5. Truth 38. The receptionist test—better than salt?
    6. Truth 39. Don't send away candidates dressed for a day at the beach
    7. Truth 40. You aren't an elephant
    8. Truth 41. Keep on selling to candidates
  10. Part V: The Truth About Panel and Multiple Interviews, Background Checks, Tests, and Other Tools of the Trade
    1. Truth 42. Invest in telephone screening to save time later
    2. Truth 43. Face-to-face doesn't have to be in-person
    3. Truth 44. Too many cooks might improve the broth
    4. Truth 45. Make haste slowly
    5. Truth 46. You may want to hire candidates even when they get a bad reference
    6. Truth 47. Beware the "Whizzinator"
    7. Truth 48. Be real, even if scary
    8. Truth 49. No crystal ball? Try employment testing
    9. Truth 50. Graphology: palm reading or valid tool?
  11. Part VI: The Truth About Evaluating Candidates and Making the Offer
    1. Truth 51. The last one you interview only seems like the winner
    2. Truth 52. The one who offers salary information first is the loser
    3. Truth 53. Don't tell candidates why they weren't selected
  12. References
  13. About the Author
  14. Acknowledgments

Product information

  • Title: The Truth About Hiring the Best
  • Author(s): Cathy Fyock
  • Release date: September 2007
  • Publisher(s): Pearson
  • ISBN: 9780132381864