In today’s interior design industry, top talent can be hard to come by. The interior design business is growing at a quick pace, creating more jobs than there are qualified candidates to fill them. If you’re looking to hire the best interior designers for your firm, then your recruitment process should be top-notch. But which steps do you take to ensure you snag the best jobseekers? Here’s a list of ways you can streamline your recruitment process to attract the right interior design candidates.
Do Your Research
Before launching into the recruitment process, conduct some research. Where will you find the best interior designers, and how do you reach them? Posting on general job boards is a good start, but it may not necessarily land you the best candidates. Try to have a presence online, join industry forums and networking groups, and optimise your firm’s website. Having a sleek, well-functioning site will help to establish your authority as a business and top-tier candidates will be more likely to apply.
Conducting research also involves being prepared. Keep the process organised and stay one step ahead. If your hiring is in shambles and you’re behind on schedule, candidates will notice.
Be Honest
Another very important aspect of the hiring process that often gets overlooked is transparency. If you like a candidate, tell them. Candidates always like to know where they stand and if you provide zero feedback they could be worried their interview didn’t go well. Firms are often afraid of getting someone’s hopes up by offering positive feedback, only to end up hiring another candidate.
Even if you’re not totally sure the job will be theirs, if they seem like a good fit, be upfront. If an interior design candidate knows you’re interested, it will keep them interested as well.
Move Quickly
In the interior design industry, you should be prepared to move quickly. Jobs in this field can’t be filled fast enough, so dragging your feet could land you with no good candidates at all. This is why it’s important to do your research and stay organized – it allows you to expedite the process and make an offer if you find a great interior designer.
It’s not good practice to collect CV’s then sit on them for weeks. Those candidates have likely applied to other positions and another firm might make them an offer before you even have the chance to interview them.
Make Candidates Feel Welcome
When you have candidates in for the interview, make them feel welcome. Don’t just sit down with them on opposite ends of a desk or conference table. Give them a tour of the office and introduce them to your other staff members. If you and they have the time, arrange to have candidates speak with as many of the team as possible. It’s much easier to gauge how they’ll fit in by speaking with their potential team, rather than only with their prospective supervisor.
Jobseekers who feel like you’ve taken the time to ensure their comfort at the interview will remember your firm. Everyone wants to work at a business that cares about its staff.
Offer a Good Package
While salary and benefits can be a touchy subject for some, it’s a significant factor to consider in the hiring process. Your firm might have certain limitations when it comes to compensation, which is fine. But don’t offer someone lower than you can afford just to save money. More importantly – don’t offer someone lower than what they’re worth.
Since interior design has become a competitive job market, talented candidates will have a keen understanding of their value. If you present an honest, transparent picture of your company, they will know the difference between your inability to offer a higher figure and your simply lowballing them.
This part’s not just about salary either. Most jobseekers today, interior design or otherwise, want work-life balance. So emphasise healthcare benefits, holiday plans, paid lunches, or initiatives you undertake to make your employees’ working lives more comfortable.
Final Thoughts on Finding the Right Employees For the Interior Design Industry
Finding solid candidates for interior design jobs doesn’t have to be a headache. With the steps outlined above, along with the right attitude, you can attract top talent in this field. As interior designers in North London for over 20 years, M&Y Interiors has a great deal of hiring experience in this business. We’ve also worked with many other firms and designers over the years, finding that a well-prepared, organised, transparent, and authentic hiring process always works best.
