Credit at work.(CONSTRUCTION CORNER)

Dear Andy: It is becoming more difficult to find qualified employees today than it was a year ago. What are the most effective screening techniques today for identifying the best job candidates?

Because of the current high demand for credit professionals, the hiring environment has been shifting in the job seekers favor. This is making it a greater challenge for firms to locate skilled practitioners. To be successful in the current market, the key is to know what you're looking for in a prospective staff member and then create a fair system for evaluating all applicants.

Ask the right questions. Before you meet with any candidates, develop a list of core questions that you'll ask each applicant to answer. You'll want to assess experience and knowledge in the credit field, of course, but you'll also need to get a sense of these individuals' interpersonal skiffs and "fit" within your firm's corporate culture. Here are some questions to consider asking candidates:

What did you like best/least about your last position?

* What is the most interesting or challenging project you've worked on?

* If you could have made improvements in your previous position, what would they have been?

* Describe your favorite/least favorite coworker or supervisor.