Job seekers aren't the only ones who come up with new year's resolutions. Now's a good time for you, as an employer, to make some small changes that could make a big difference in how you hire in the new year.

1. Make sure you know what you want before you post a job. Sounds obvious, but how many times have you posted a job, brought in candidates, and then decided to rework the job description and start over? We hear from job seekers all the time about how they take time off of work and devote a lot of time and effort into applying for positions that in the end are not even filled. Respect the candidates you?re bringing in and save your own time by making sure that you and the internal staff you're working with know exactly what you want for the position before you post it.

2. Post a salary range on your job postings. We know this is a controversial topic and not a popular idea, but you will get more and better applicants if you're upfront about the salary range. We know that you don't want to rule people out based on salary requirements and you don't want to discourage anyone from applying. The fact is, the qualified applicants who are already employed for your competitor won't bother applying for your job unless they know it's better than the one they already have and salary is one important factor that they can measure. Try it for one of your jobs this year and see what happens. It just may save you a lot of time and headache.

3. Treat all of your candidates with respect. Sometimes in the rush to fill positions and complete your other duties, you don't have time to think about how the people you interact with are viewing you and your company. But remember, your company's reputation is a key selling point for qualified candidates - so don't risk it by neglecting simple recruiting etiquette. Always remember to:

• Acknowledge every resume that you receive with a brief note that lets candidates know their resume has been received and is being reviewed. (This can easily be done by creating an email address specifically for resumes and having an automatic message sent every time an email comes in).
• Let runners-up know that they have not been selected for the job. You may not have time to write a detailed letter to each applicant, but at least send a form letter out to let them know that the position has been filled.