10 Steps to Scaling Up Recruitment: The Ultimate Guide

July 14, 2023 Neale Lewis

In the world of recruitment, two seminal works — "Who: The A Method for Hiring" by Geoff Smart and Randy Street and "Topgrading" by Brad Smart — offer valuable insights into securing top talent. Both books underscore the importance of structured hiring processes, performance-driven interviews, and employing talent assessment scorecards. This guide will outline ten key steps for scaling up your recruitment processes, integrating the wisdom from these two exceptional resources.

1. Define Your Scorecard

The scorecard is a fundamental element in the hiring strategy presented in "Who". This tool outlines the mission for the position, outcomes the candidate must accomplish, and the competencies that fit with both the role and your company culture. Defining this ahead of your search provides a clear target to aim for.

2. Source Strategically

Both 'Who' and 'Topgrading' emphasise proactive sourcing over reactive hiring. Instead of waiting for applicants, seek out potential candidates directly, focusing on those who meet your scorecard's criteria. Utilise platforms like LinkedIn and engage your networks to find A Players.

3. Optimise Your Screening Process

In 'Topgrading', a thorough screening process is crucial to filter out B and C Players. Incorporate a detailed online application form and implement phone screens to assess the basics before investing in more in-depth interviews.

4. Conduct a Topgrading Interview

The Topgrading Interview is a chronological deep dive into the candidate’s career history. It enables you to understand their decisions, successes, failures, and relationships with past supervisors. This comprehensive approach ensures you gain a full picture of the candidate's capabilities.

5. Prioritise Reference Checks

"Who" highlights the importance of conducting thorough reference checks. Rather than a cursory, last-minute check, make this a key part of your decision-making process. Hearing from previous employers can provide invaluable insights into how the candidate works in a team setting and their approach to tasks.

ScalingUp Banner - Take Your Free Assessment (Orange)

6. Create a Strong Employer Brand

Just as you're evaluating candidates, they're assessing your company. A strong employer brand is key to attracting A Players. Showcase your company culture, opportunities for growth, and benefits through your website, job postings, and social media channels.

7. Implement the 4 P’s of Topgrading

Incorporate the '4 P’s' of Topgrading: Prepare (define what you need), Perform (carry out a thorough interviewing process), Pinpoint (use reference checks to verify your findings), and Persist (continue to refine and commit to the process).

8. Develop Talent Pipelines

'Who' suggests that an ongoing recruitment process is more effective than isolated hiring campaigns. This involves continually sourcing potential candidates and keeping them engaged, so when positions open, you already have a pool of qualified candidates to tap into.

9. Use the Job Tryout Method

Whenever possible, implement a ‘job tryout’. This could be a project, a contract period, or a temporary placement. It’s an opportunity to see the candidate in action and assess their skills, work style, and fit with the team.

10. Foster a High-Performance Culture

Both 'Who' and 'Topgrading' argue that consistently hiring A Players leads to a high-performance culture. This environment fosters growth, attracts more A Players, and helps to naturally weed out underperformers.

In conclusion, scaling up recruitment is an intentional, methodical process. It's not about hiring the most candidates; it's about hiring the right candidates. By defining your scorecard, sourcing strategically, optimising your screening process, conducting a Topgrading Interview, prioritising reference checks and creating a strong employer brand you will have a much greater chance of successfully attracting, recruiting and retaining top talent who in turn will help drive your business growth.

ScalingUp Banner - Download Free Scaling Up Tools (Blue)

Neale Lewis is a seasoned business strategist, entrepreneur, and thought leader with a passion for empowering individuals and organisations to achieve their full potential.

Neale Lewis - Blog Signature (3)

Share This: