When hiring, it’s important that you are clear on the type of person you want. The clearer you are on the person you want, the easier it will be to identify that person once you’ve found them. This sounds simple, but many supply chain leaders overlook it, recycling old job descriptions instead of starting fresh, or leaning too heavily on HR to find the right person.

Begin with the end in mind. Before you start listing the duties and responsibilities of the person you want to hire, give some thought to what impact you want this person to have on your business. What do you need this person to accomplish for you and your team?

Identify your core Values. Take a close look at the core values of your organization, and specifically those of your team. What do you stand for? Why do you do what you do? Values create culture—before you add to your team, be clear on what you value. Often the best way to ensure a strong culture fit is by hiring from within. This is why I always suggest looking within your organization before looking outside and engaging a recruitment firm.

Hire for the future, not just for the present. Focus on core values and behavioural traits first, and you will be able to identify candidates that will grow and thrive within your organization.

Remember, a general idea of what you want won’t help you fill a specific role. When you’re writing a job description, be clear about what type of person you want—don’t just list duties, list the characteristics and values the person needs to have.

If you’re looking for the best talent in supply chain, and you’ve already looked within your organization, give us a call and let’s see if we can help. At SCL Search we specialize exclusively in Supply Chain and Logistics recruitment, helping top employers across Canada to identify the best talent in transportation, distribution and supply chain planning.