There is a shortage of quality talents in the print industry – that’s a fact. And as the demand for more dynamic talents stretches across every role, from print finisher to artworkers, there are so many other positions that are left unfilled. Now, as a result, finding the proper talent for these positions is not easy, and employers are having a really tough time. However, to help you get to the right candidates, here are some of the things you should look out for:

The right candidate resembles your ideal profile – you need to pinpoint your ideal candidate before posting your job advert. Include every qualification you are looking for from them, the task you are hiring them for, and also the ‘soft skills’ you think might be necessary for the position. Also, you need to include your company mission and values, where you articulate what’s important to your business super clearly. Remember, the clearer your job advert, the better your chances of hiring the right candidate are.

Can operate sophisticated software and/or tools – there are some specific skills that are required to be able to complete certain jobs in the print industry. For instance, a design manager ought to have experience with computer-aided design (CAD) software to be able to oversee and produce new structural designs. As well, machine printers need to be experienced in the different types of printing, such as catalog printing as well as booklet printing. When hiring, it is recommended that you have an idea of the required skills and tools the candidates would need for them to be hired, and list all of them in your job description. Being clear on what the right candidates should be proficient in should help you attract only the appropriate ones. And if you can’t find candidates with the skillset you are looking for, you might want to consider taking someone as an apprentice and train him/her.

A candidate who can work well with clients – there are those positions that require a candidate to have a good working relationship with clients. For instance, artworkers need to have good communication skills which come in handy when trying to understand exactly what the client is looking for. What’s more, management positions also require effective communication skills, given that their tasks involve interacting with clients, keeping track of their projects and accounts. Before you hire a candidate, you can evaluate his/her written communication skills from the application, and you can test his/her other communication proficiencies during an interview.

Performs well under pressure – the print industry tends to become a high-pressure environment at times, and that means the candidates you hire better be able to work well under pressure, especially if the role involves frequently adhering to a strict schedule. You can test this ability during an interview, where you can try to ask unusual questions to throw the candidate off-balance and gauge their response.

Final thoughts

You can’t tell for sure if you are hiring the right candidate, but when you look at these qualities, you will be able to establish a solid profile of a certain candidate. You will be able to tell if they can be a good fit for your company.