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Clearly something is wrong when it takes almost eight months for an employer to even make a job offer to a job applicant.
That’s what happened in Trumbull County government, and when commissioners finally made an offer to fill the position of Trumbull County human resources director — vacant since Feb. 1 — the candidate declined.
Dozens applied for the job, advertised in two separate rounds. A citizen review panel that voluntarily reviewed the resumes recommended several to the commissioners. However, as the office staff tried to schedule interviews, many applicants withdrew their interest or had accepted other jobs—perhaps from employers who moved a little faster or who were nicer and more attractive.
Commissioners are now again faced with reviewing all applicants who previously missed out and/or advertising the position for a third time and then calling on their review committee to spend a few more hours reviewing the latest applicants. The review panel, made up of several residents with backgrounds in business and employment, has already received 73 applicants and recommended and ranked six for the commissioners to consider for the position.
Two did not respond; one thought the salary too low; one requested relocation assistance; and one didn’t want to move here out of town.
This left one candidate ranked second by the review committee. According to Commissioner Frank Fuda and the documentation we requested, this applicant has already accepted a job elsewhere. However, the HR review panel encouraged Fuda to call this candidate and renew the offer.
Commissioner Mauro Cantalamesa agreed. Commissioner Nikki Franko said she didn’t like that candidate, noting that when she called him to set up an interview, she asked a few basic questions and was unhappy with his answers. No full interview followed. That’s unfortunate. It may have been appropriate, but now we’ll never know.
According to Fuda, the candidate told him that was part of the reason he didn’t take the job. He also said he wants to work at a place where his bosses get along. Based on the commissioners’ behavior at regular weekly meetings, that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon.
The candidate did not respond to our reporter’s requests for comment.
Going forward, Franco wants other commissioners to consider a first-round candidate who continued to show interest even after the county accepted a second round of applications. Franco says he has been communicating with him since June. He said he would welcome another interview to dispel any reluctance.
Cantalamesa said he is open to considering all qualified applicants. He said at least three members of the human resources panel have expressed interest in the job, so he will talk to them.
It’s not a bad idea, but maybe they should also interview the candidate that Franco likes and who still seems to be interested.
The very knowledgeable members of the volunteer HR review team who have dedicated hours of their time are undoubtedly ready to move forward. Who can blame them?
In our view, they have fulfilled a great civic duty and should not be invited back to the table to review a new round of applicants. We suspect that’s exactly what will happen, though.
One committee member said if commissioners announced a third time, the process would have to change. He recommends putting one person in charge to speed up the process.
Frenchko recommends that someone keep in constant contact with the candidates so they don’t lose interest. We agree. Simple emails could accomplish this task and would not be as time-consuming as personal phone calls from office staff.
Some panel members suggest bringing in outside help, such as a recruiter who can search for candidates, communicate with them and set up interviews.
These all sound like good ideas. But first the commissioners must agree on a process – and that does not inspire optimism.
Commissioners can point fingers at each other all they want, but let’s be clear. This will not result in this very critical HR position being filled.
In an economy that boasts relatively low unemployment rates, good candidates come and go very quickly. Most private sector employers already know this. Commissioners must realize that if they ever hope to get this position, they must act quickly. The ideal is the agreement of all three commissioners. But if all three cannot agree, it only takes two to accept a proposal.
editorial@tribtoday.com
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