What qualities should you look for when interviewing candidates for the position of Collector.
People Skills
- Do they present themselves in a professional manner?
- Are they well groomed?
- Are they able to engage with people while maintaining a positive and helpful attitude?
- Can they articulate well in both verbal and written language?
- Do their writing skills incorporate correct grammar and spelling, whether formulating an email, text, or collection letter?
Is your company providing ongoing training for new hires?
- What is the candidate’s level of proficiency in the collection industry’s procedures and laws?
- Is the candidate open to ongoing training and improvement of their job skills and willing to put in the time to learn?
- Is the candidate trained in negotiating techniques and are they good listeners?
While it is unlikely that you will be able to know right away that you’ve hired the right person for the job, it is important that in the hiring process a reasonable amount of time is taken to run the candidate through a variety of scenarios to see how they respond. A process should be in place within your company to make sure that the candidate is monitored and coached throughout their trial period as well as provided with opportunities for ongoing education and training.
This article was inspired by Thomas W. Hamilton’s post in the Aug. 11, 2021 issue of the American Lawyers Quarterly Newsletter.
