This is great advice from Chris, and it's very much field tested.
On top of this, I would add honesty -- as in direct, upfront honesty. Don't sugarcoat anything. Over-selling a company can quickly be translated as bait-and-switch once somebody joins an organization.
I've used the honesty element as a recruiting tool, though. I explain where we have holes, and why persuading the candidate to join addresses those holes and moves us forward.
That approach doesn't always fit with every candidate, but I view that as a positive. I save them time from considering a situation for which they're potentially not a good fit. And I save myself time in finding the right candidate that fits our profile.
On top of this, I would add honesty -- as in direct, upfront honesty. Don't sugarcoat anything. Over-selling a company can quickly be translated as bait-and-switch once somebody joins an organization.
I've used the honesty element as a recruiting tool, though. I explain where we have holes, and why persuading the candidate to join addresses those holes and moves us forward.
That approach doesn't always fit with every candidate, but I view that as a positive. I save them time from considering a situation for which they're potentially not a good fit. And I save myself time in finding the right candidate that fits our profile.