This edition of Real Answers from Real Dallas Recruiters brings two questions from opposite sides of the hiring desk. A Dallas employer who keeps coming up empty on an open role wants to know the first thing a recruiter will ask to help. A candidate wants to know the most useful thing to do before walking into an interview. Jody Northcutt answers both with the straight talk she is known for, built on more than 14 years of placing Dallas talent.
Jody is a Senior Staffing Consultant at PrideStaff Dallas, where she has spent over 14 years connecting people with opportunities and helping companies build reliable teams. She specializes in administrative, clerical, customer service, and call center roles, along with warehouse placements, across the Dallas area. A PrideStaff DNA Award winner, Jody is known for treating clients and candidates like family and for holding out for the right fit.
Connect with Jody on LinkedIn.
If You’re Struggling to Fill a Position, What’s the First Question We’ll Ask?
Before anything else, Jody asks one question, “tell me what your process has looked like so far.” She wants the full picture, the job posting, the candidates you have already interviewed, how long your process runs, the pay you are offering, and even how your company shows up online, so she can pinpoint what is getting in the way and consult with you on a fix.
“When a client calls us and they’re struggling filling a position, the first question I ask is, tell me what’s been going on so far. What is your process up to this point? Because I want to consult with them and see if I can help them find the right person.”
That one question opens everything a recruiter needs to diagnose a stuck search. As Jody walks through the process with you, a few common culprits tend to surface.
Is Your Interview Process Too Long?
Often a stalled search comes down to timing. According to JobScore research, half of employers say they have lost quality talent because of a poor interview process, and the interview stage is where they lose the most candidates. Over 50% of employers still put candidates through four or more interviews across a 4 to 6 week process. Research covered by Forbes found three-quarters of job seekers would drop out of a lengthy recruitment process altogether. In a fast-moving Dallas market, a slow process is how you lose the candidate you wanted.
Is the Pay Right for the Market?
Pay is one of the first things Jody looks at, because it is one of the first things candidates look at. JobScore data shows 74% of candidates are searching for salary information, and about half find it stressful when a posting leaves out pay information. If your offer is below the Dallas market for that role, the search stalls no matter how good the posting is. A recruiter who knows local accounting, administrative, and call center pay ranges can tell you whether the number is the sticking point.
What Does Your Company Look Like Online?
Candidates research you before they ever apply, so Jody checks how your company shows up. As she puts it:
“We can discuss their job posting, the candidates that they’ve been interviewing. What is the interview process at this point? Is it too long? What is the pay? What are their social media accounts look like? Because a lot of candidates will be looking at that.”
A thin or outdated online presence quietly costs you applicants in Plano, Richardson, Frisco, and Las Colinas, especially for clerical and customer service roles where candidates have plenty of options.
The point of all of this is partnership. Jody sums it up simply:
“I think it’s really important to see what the client has been doing, where we can come in and become a really strong partner for them.”
What Do You Tell a Candidate to Do Before an Interview?
Research the company. If Jody had to pick one thing, this is it. Go through the company website, the careers page, and the core values, then look at recent news and any challenges the business is facing. Dig into Glassdoor and LinkedIn for a sense of the culture. After that, look up the person interviewing you, connect with them on LinkedIn, and consider sending a short note that you are looking forward to the conversation.
“What do you tell someone to do prior to their interview? If I had to pick one thing, what would it be? Research the company. Gone are the days of walking into an interview and winging it. There’s so much information on the internet. Be prepared.”
The data backs her up. Per JobScore, 54% of candidates research every company before they apply, which means the ones who skip it are already a step behind. With the average corporate opening drawing hundreds of applicants, walking in with a clear understanding of the company is one of the easiest ways to stand out in Dallas.
Where to Look
- The company website and careers page, so you understand what they do and how they describe the role.
- Their core values, so you can speak to what matters to them.
- Recent news and challenges, so you sound informed and interested.
- Glassdoor and LinkedIn, for a candid look at the culture and the team.
Then Research the Interviewer
Jody takes it one step further than most candidates think to:
“If you know the name of the person that you’re going to be interviewing with, research them. Find them on LinkedIn. Connect with them on LinkedIn. You could even send them a note, I’m excited about interviewing with you tomorrow.”
That small effort signals interest before you even shake hands. As Jody puts it, do your homework, just like you were back in school.
Why Jody’s Advice Works
Jody has spent more than 14 years in the Dallas market, consulting with employers who need to fill roles and coaching candidates who want to land them. She has watched what makes a search stall and what helps a candidate stand out, so her advice comes from years of doing the work. The PrideStaff DNA Award she earned for living the company mission reflects how she approaches her work: she takes it personally.
Key Takeaways
For Hiring Managers
- If a role will not fill, look at your process first: the posting, the candidates, the timeline, and the pay.
- A drawn-out interview process pushes good candidates toward other offers. Tighten it.
- Candidates research you online before they apply, so your employer presence matters.
For Job Seekers
- Research the company top to bottom: website, careers page, core values, news, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn.
- Research the person interviewing you, connect on LinkedIn, and send a short note before the meeting.
- Do not wing it. Preparation is the simplest way to stand out.
Ready to Talk?
Whether you are trying to fill an opening or preparing for your next interview, Jody and the team at PrideStaff Dallas can help. Connect with Jody on LinkedIn, or reach out to PrideStaff Dallas if you are hiring or looking for work.
Video Transcripts
Client Question: If you’re struggling to fill a position, what’s the first question we’ll ask?
“I’m very excited about this one. When a client calls us and they’re struggling filling a position, whether it be clerical, warehouse, accounting, or finance, what’s the very first question that I ask? And the first question I ask is, tell me what’s been going on so far. What is your process up to this point? Why do I ask that question? Because I want to consult with them and see if I can help them find the right person.
So by asking them, tell me about your process, we can discuss their job posting, the candidates that they’ve been interviewing. What is the interview process at this point? Is it too long? What is the pay? What are their social media accounts look like? Because a lot of candidates will be looking at that. But I think it’s really important to see what the client has been doing, where we can come in and become a really strong partner for them.”
Candidate Question: What do you tell a candidate to do before an interview?
“This question today is a great one. What do you tell someone to do prior to their interview? If I had to pick one thing, what would it be? Research the company. Gone are the days of walking into an interview and winging it. There’s so much information on the internet. Be prepared.
Look at the company’s website. Look at their career page. Look at their core values. Are they in the news? What are they facing challenges with? Do a dive on Glassdoor. Do a dive on LinkedIn. Try to get as much information about the company so then you can take that information into the interview with you. This is going to show the company that you’re interested.
The other thing that I would suggest, if you know the name of the person that you’re going to be interviewing with, research them. Find them on LinkedIn. Connect with them on LinkedIn. You could even send them a note, I’m excited about interviewing with you tomorrow. So do your homework. Just like if you were at school.”