How to source and shortlist {role_name}

Where can you find qualified {role_name}?

  • Professional network
    • Leverage your professional network and reach out to former colleagues, industry peers, and tech community members to ask for referrals.

What are the best practices for headhunting {role_name}?

  • Personalized Outreach:
    • Customize your messages to highlight why the candidate would be a great fit for the role and your company.
    • Mention specific projects or skills from their profile that align with your job requirements.
  • Leverage referrals:
    • Encourage current employees to refer qualified candidates.
    • Offer referral bonuses to incentivize participation.
  • Engage in industry events:
    • Attend and participate in backend development and software engineering conferences, webinars, and meetups.
    • Network with professionals and distribute information about the job opening.

How to shortlist candidates?

Once you have started to get applications from applicants, a thorough screening process and shortlisting of prospects will help you make the most of your time spent with the most qualified ones. 

Automated shortlisting tools :

Automated screening quickly filters out unqualified candidates, saving time for manual review. This allows the manual process to focus on the most promising candidates, ensuring the best ones are considered for further evaluation.

Screening questions to auto-shortlist based on predefined criteria

like qualifications, location, experience, and skills. Either use job board or use an ATS such as whitecarrot. Here are some questions for {role_name}

  • How many years of experience do you have with backend technologies (e.g., Node.js, Java, Python)?
    • Auto-reject criteria: Less than 2 years of experience.
  • How many years of experience do you have with database management (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB)?
    • Auto-reject criteria: Less than 2 years of experience.
  • Are you located within [specified location] or willing to work remotely?
    • Auto-reject criteria: Not located within the specified region and unwilling to work remotely.

Skill based question to auto shortlist candidate

Analyze the skill test data to automatically shortlist top-performing applicants. (recommended screening test time - 15 minutes). Here are some skill test questions for {role_name}

Backend Technologies

  • Question 1: What is the purpose of the Node.js runtime environment?
    • Options:
      • To run JavaScript code server-side
      • To create and manage databases
      • To design frontend interfaces
      • To manage cloud infrastructure
    • Correct Answer: To run JavaScript code server-side
  • Question 2: Which of the following is a popular framework for building RESTful APIs in Java?
    • Options:
      • Spring Boot
      • Django
      • Express.js
      • Flask
    • Correct Answer: Spring Boot
  • Question 3: How does Python’s Flask framework differ from Django?
    • Options:
      • Flask is a micro-framework, while Django is a full-stack framework
      • Flask is used for frontend development, while Django is used for backend
      • Flask requires JavaScript, while Django does not
      • Flask is a database management tool, while Django is not
    • Correct Answer: Flask is a micro-framework, while Django is a full-stack framework

Database Management

  • Question 1: What is a primary key in a database?
    • Options:
      • A unique identifier for each record
      • A tool for data encryption
      • A foreign key in a table
      • A function for data backup
    • Correct Answer: A unique identifier for each record
  • Question 2: Which SQL command is used to retrieve data from a database?
    • Options:
      • SELECT
      • INSERT
      • UPDATE
      • DELETE
    • Correct Answer: SELECT
  • Question 3: What is the purpose of indexing in databases?
    • Options:
      • To increase the performance of database queries
      • To secure data in the database
      • To create relationships between tables
      • To manage user permissions
    • Correct Answer: To increase the performance of database queries

API Development

  • Question 1: What does REST stand for in RESTful API?
    • Options:
      • Representational State Transfer
      • Reliable State Transition
      • Remote Execution Service Transfer
      • Recursive State Tracking
    • Correct Answer: Representational State Transfer
  • Question 2: Which HTTP method is used to update a resource in a RESTful API?
    • Options:
      • GET
      • POST
      • PUT
      • DELETE
    • Correct Answer: PUT
  • Question 3: What is the purpose of using JSON in APIs?
    • Options:
      • To store data on the server
      • To transmit data between a client and server
      • To secure API endpoints
      • To generate frontend code
    • Correct Answer: To transmit data between a client and server

Note - Auto reject candidates if scores less than 70% in this section

One way video interview

Recruitment Bullet

Use tools like hirevue, whitecarrot.io to ask candidates pre-recorded questions about their experience and skills.

Recruitment Bullet

Use sample question given in scorecard.

Collect other information 

Recruitment Bullet

Collect data from shortlisted candidates, such as salary expectations and visa status.

Manual candidate profile shortlisting:

Recruitment Bullet

Thoroughly review the CVs of the top scoring candidates from the automated process

Recruitment Bullet

Look for evidence of the required skills, experience, and achievements

Recruitment Bullet

Review the candidate’s portfolio or GitHub repositories to see examples of their work.

Schedule recruiter calls with the candidate

Recruitment Bullet

Use a tool like calendly or whitecarrot to allow candidates to self-schedule calls based on your availability

Recruitment Bullet

Confirm the call details (date, time, dial-in info) with the candidate via email

What questions to ask in the recruiter phone screen?

Recruitment Bullet

 Use scorecard for rating candidates for recruiter

Recruitment Bullet

Sample scorecard : 

Criteria Rating (1-5) Comments
Experience with Backend Technologies
Knowledge of Database Management
Problem-Solving Skills
Communication Skills
Cultural Fit
Work Sample Test
Recruitment Bullet

Check for consistency in responses from the candidates.

Recruitment Bullet

Record such scorecards in an ATS like whitecarrot or use google doc