Hire the Best and Treat Them Well

Two very important functions we engage in as registrars are hiring and onboarding. Perhaps surprisingly, we don’t spend a lot of time talking about either of those very important practices. In this episode we discuss ways to improve the interviewing and hiring process for everyone involved, along with practical ways to bring your new hire into your office and get them acculturated quickly.   

Key Takeaways:

• A clear understanding of the role and a specific articulation of responsibilities in the position description will make recruiting the right person much easier. 
• Calendaring out the interviewing process can reduce stress for participants and candidates alike. Clear timelines are very helpful.
• Asking “Will this person raise the average of the team?” or something similar may help you distill down a hiring decision. It’s better to have a failed search than to hire the wrong person. 
• Clear communication with your new hire is vital to their onboarding. Scheduling out their first weeks in the office can go a long way to positioning them (and you!) to succeed.  

Host:

Doug McKenna
University Registrar, George Mason University
cmckenn@gmu.edu   

Guests:

Michael Burke
Dean of Student Services, Harvard University
mikeburke@fas.harvard.edu  

Rebecca Mathern
Assoc. Vice Provost Academic Affairs & University Registrar, Oregon State University
rebecca.mathern@oregonstate.edu

References and Additional Information:

Operations and Business Process Management (AACRAO Core Competency)

STAR Technique and Behavioral Interview Questions (indeed.com)

Onboarding Without Overwhelming (Harvard Business Review)