Recruitment: how to sort through applications efficiently

Is your company currently recruiting? Are you responsible for sorting through resumes?

These tips may help you choose the best candidates without burning out.

• Start by clearly defining your selection criteria, starting with the must-have qualifications like education, years of experience or a driver’s licence. Then, identify nice-to-have qualities, such as bilingualism, availability or CPR training.

• Sort through the resumes as they come in so they don’t pile up. Skim each document quickly but strategically. Look for important keywords, review the candidate’s career timeline and assess their skills.

• Separate the applications you receive into three categories: highly relevant, interesting and not very relevant. You can rank them from 1 to 3 or from A to C. That said, be open to atypical profiles. A candidate who breaks the mould could add real value to your team.

Also, keep in mind that the format of the candidate’s resume and cover letter matters. Depending on the position, a clean layout and proper spelling can be highly revealing criteria.

Once you complete your first round of sorting, you can move on to the exciting stage of job interviews. Good luck!

Artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use AI to help sort applications, but use it with caution. These new tools are far from infallible. You don’t want to overlook that “rare gem.” Make sure you understand how to use the tool and know how to correct any potential errors or biases.