A Plant Tour is Priceless for Candidates

After each search we realize how important access to information is for both ourselves and candidates. Many companies recruiting process ends up to be a one way street.   The more knowledge and information a candidate receives about the company and the position, the more they become engaged. For candidate, having an indepth understanding the company, processes and the people during the recruiting process is invaluable. Explaining a manufacturing process versus getting out on the floor and witnessing the process makes a world of a difference in the hiring process, benefiting both the client and candidate.

We have been working with a Sales Manager to hire a National Account Manager-OEM.  Our client is a distributor that provides industrial products as well as value added services. 

Assumption

All candidates understand our client’s business as well as we do, so there is no need to explain much of what we do, who we serve and why clients want our products and services.

Problem

Candidates were having difficulty understanding what does our client really do and what are these “value add services." Candidates consistently asked, “So you mean this” or “they do that” and “I am not sure if I am technical enough for this position”.  Many times they were off the mark

Minor Details

• Sales Manager travels regularly
• Client’s HQ is in the Twin Cities
• Position is in Northern IL area territory.
• Service center is in Northern IL
• Candidates live throughout the U.S.

Solution

Because of logistics, hours and hours have been spent on the phone, in coffee shops and restaurants in the middle of nowhere - together Sales Manager and candidates discussing the position without seeing the operation. Our Client’s Operations Manager created a presentation demonstrating our client’s value-add capabilities.  This document was originally used to communicate capabilities in the sales process.  You know “Engineer to Engineer” or “Real cost savings to the Procurement Dept” stuff.  He took the initiative to develop this “360 view of the backroom” and present it in a Powerpoint.  Now we can step through the presentation and describe exactly what our client does to add value to the distribution process without actually visiting the facility.  Once there is a mutual interest, he provides a “Hands-on” Operations tour for our candidates. 

Conclusion

Giving candidates the opportunity to visualize in the presentation and visit the plant to understand the value proposition of your products/services is invaluable.

Additional Benefits

1. Self-filters candidate in/out of the recruiting process
2. Sells the opportunity –from the presentation and tour candidates can easily see the opportunity to sell these services
3. You can observe very quickly if candidate can see themselves in the role