In a global economy, candidates who are bilingual are considered to be valuable for their ability to communicate with a wider range of people. Many workplaces are seeking bilingual job candidates, therefore job seekers often mark this on their applications in order to get noticed ahead of others. But, what if a candidate is somewhat bilingual and cannot perform well in the job, or worse yet, not bilingual at all? This is where a little testing can help out.

Test Bilingual Candidates during the Application Phase

It’s possible to build a little testing into the application process for any new candidates. At the conclusion of the application, add a set of screener questions in the alternative language that the candidate has indicated they can speak. If they can answer the questions, the candidate at least has the basic skills to move to the next step.

Utilize a Bilingual Interviewer

A member of your staff who is bilingual can help with interviewing candidates. Ideally, this should be someone on your HR team, but can also be someone you use on a contractual basis for recruitment purposes or borrow from another department to handle interviews. Ask some of the questions in the alternative language type, and then find out if the bilingual candidate has the skills to move forward.

Hire from a Staffing Agency

A staffing agency in the area that works with bilingual candidates can screen people ahead of time who are suitable for positions in your company requiring this skill. They conduct screening in a variety of ways, from candidate assessments and testing to verifying work skills with past employers. A staffing agency generally has a pipeline of great candidates who are bilingual and ready to go to work immediately too.

Evaluate Candidates in the First 2 Weeks

Once you have hired a candidate who is bilingual, be sure to observe their progress in the first few weeks on the job. Look for any issues that are related to language and communication. Someone who is bilingual may be a little “rusty” in some areas of alternative language use, but this should improve over time. Consider if a temporary assignment is a good way to get started until the candidate proves himself.

Guided by a commitment to maintain the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, Davis Staffing  strives to provide excellence in service with personalized attention and gainful employment opportunities to our employees.  Contact our great team of recruiters today to work with one of the top temporary agencies in Chicago.