In today´s issue (7/31/06) of Harvard Business School´s Working Knowledge, professors Max H. Bazerman and Deepak Malhotra provide readers with a few strategies that in their words "guard against falling back on intuition during times of stress and indecision in negotiation."  While the strategies suggested are primarily directed at individuals engaged in negotiation, the parallel to recruitment is compelling. Finding the candidate that best fits a position is indeed a negotiation.

The danger with intuition - as the authors suggest - is that it can frequently cloud, misdirect, or overshadow rational decision making. With so much riding on the selection of candidates why would a selection committee rely on "trusting their gut"?

Take a look at the four strategies recommended and your recruitment process will be better for it.

Note: See http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/5465.html