Don’t let vacation season take your hiring process off track

Nearly 9 in 10 employees are planning a summer vacation in 2023. While vacations are a much-needed break for employees, they can wreak havoc with the recruiting and hiring process. Am I right? When hiring managers, HR professionals, and key decision-makers are out on vacation, there are potential delays in scheduling interviews, conducting follow-ups, and making hiring decisions. Here are some quick tips to keep the hiring process moving during peak vacation season.

1) Time your posting. Pre-plan your recruiting process around vacations and typically busy times for the leaders involved. Post a position only when there are 2-3 weeks available.

2) Keep the process moving. Review candidates as they apply and screen them quickly. Establish agreements with managers to move through the interviewing as quickly as possible.

3) Schedule interviews in blocks within the first week of the candidate’s application. Often, if you wait to schedule until all of your candidates are screened, your first (and maybe best) candidate will be off the market.

4) Communicate clearly with candidates if unexpected delays occur and help keep the process on track by utilizing video and other options if something comes up.

Simple planning on the front end – and communication with hiring leaders and candidates – helps to ensure critical hires are made. Plus, everyone involved in the process will be able to enjoy their vacation time — including you.