How to Choose Between Two Equally Qualified Candidates

How to Choose Between Two Equally Qualified Candidates
You posted a job opening and received countless applications. You diligently reviewed a towering pile of resumes, went through the time-consuming task of interviewing the most promising individuals and narrowed the field down to two exceptional accounting professionals.

The problem? You can’t decide whom to choose because both candidates meet your criteria and possess similar experience. While it’s an enviable staffing-related problem to have, particularly during a recession, the situation still makes for a difficult hiring decision. Following are tips to consider and additional questions to ask to help you identify the person who’s truly best suited for the job:

Look beneath the surface. Ask both candidates back for follow-up interviews so you can dig deeper. Engage them in conversations that provide more insight into their personalities, workstyles and critical-thinking skills. Consider asking open-ended questions such as, “Describe a politically sensitive situation in your former workplace and how you resolved the problem,” or “What was your biggest professional setback and how did you handle it?” Frequently, what distinguishes outstanding employees is the ability to solve dilemmas and learn from their mistakes.

Put a spotlight on people skills. In today’s challenging economic environment, any new hire should possess strong technical skills and a bottom-line focus. But because so much business today is founded on collaboration, it’s also wise to focus on less-tangible qualities such as interpersonal abilities. Try to identify the person who possesses the stronger team-building and communication skills. Helpful questions might include: “Tell me about a time when you successfully sold a bold new idea to management,” or “Describe a project involving multiple departments and how you coordinated everyone’s efforts to achieve the same goal.”

Closely examine their excitement level. Which person displays more enthusiasm about the job opportunity and passion for the accounting field? Upbeat applicants who demonstrate eagerness to learn, grow and tackle new challenges will likely bring the same initiative and positive attitude to their jobs. Ask questions such as, “How do you keep your skills current?” to gauge the candidate’s career ambitions and commitment to professional development.

For more advice on management and career issues, listen to The Management Minute, Robert Half’s podcast series at www.rhi.com/podcast.

Submitted by Robert Half Finance & Accounting. Founded in 1948, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, a division of Robert Half International Inc., is the world's first and largest specialized financial recruiting service. The company has more than 360 offices worldwide and offers online job search services at www.roberthalffinance.com.