Hiring Manager Guide: 4 Responsibilities of a Hiring Manager

A hiring manager is a person responsible for hiring a new employee for an open position. The hiring manager will usually be a department head looking to fill a new position within their department. In some cases, the hiring manager will serve as the new employee’s manager and will have the final decision on which candidate the company hires.

Many hiring teams include both recruiters and hiring managers, though the roles have varying responsibilities in the recruiting process and hiring process. Recruiters work in talent acquisition and provide the hiring manager with a pool of qualified candidates to consider. A recruiter sources and pre-screens candidates before forwarding them to the hiring manager, who then conducts interviews and makes the final hiring decision.

Hiring managers work with the human resources department and recruiters to hire new employees. While the HR team and the recruiter are in charge of the recruitment process, the hiring manager's job is to interview candidates and make the final decision on who to hire. The role of the hiring manager includes:

1. 1. Identify the job skill set. Hiring managers craft job descriptions and ensure the job posting is approved by the necessary departments before giving it to the HR team to publicize. Hiring managers educate the HR team and recruiter about the position and how the new hire will fit into the team, and they may provide HR with interview questions to consider for pre-screen conversations.
2. 2. Interview candidates. Hiring managers conduct the interviews. HR can sometimes do the initial vetting of job seekers to find suitable candidates, but the hiring manager will usually be present at the first interview and will serve as the point person for candidates throughout the hiring process to determine the ideal candidate for the job. Hiring managers manage the candidate experience throughout the hiring process and can provide interview feedback if requested.
3. 3. Make the hiring decision. Hiring managers are the decision-makers who select the best candidate to fill the position. They’re also sometimes tasked with presenting the job offer to the chosen candidate and negotiating the employment contract.
4. 4. Onboard the new team member. Hiring managers typically lead the onboarding process and ensure the new hire acclimates well to the company culture. Hiring managers also help make sure employee retention is high.

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