I spent my summer vacation in Alaska this year. While I did plenty of sightseeing from the car, I also did quite a bit of hiking, primarily around Denali National Park, home of America's highest peak, Mt. McKinley (also known by its native name, Denali).

In Denali National Park there are no marked trails. Hikers walk anywhere they want (or can!). There are no cars allowed and hikers get in and out of the park by a bus that makes frequent stops on the main road. So, you must have a good map, compass, bear repellent, plenty of water, food, and good equipment for all weather conditions. In other words, you must be well prepared for your hike. Most hikers are prepared… but some, unfortunately, are not.

The day before I arrived, two young hikers who had been missing for three days were found. One was alive and one had died of exposure. Yes, I found out you can die of exposure in July in Alaska.

The day after the boys were discovered I was on a guided bus tour of the park. Naturally, the subject of this tragedy came up as the ranger was talking about the harsh realities of the park. He commented that the boy who died did not bring along any rain gear.

"A good rain poncho or jacket would have saved that kid's life," he said. "You have to be prepared for every eventuality when you hike." The Boy Scout motto of "Be Prepared" never struck home to me so much as it did on that day.

"Be Prepared" When You Hire

When you hire, it's a lot like taking a hike. A good hiker prepares for every eventuality when he gears up for a trip, and you too should be prepared for your hiring "hike." There are a few staples you'll need as well. Whether you're a novice at hiring or a seasoned expert, here's the list of what you need:

— Know the Terrain —

Good hikers know what kind of terrain they will be encountering (tundra, taiga, forest, mountainous, etc.). Your terrain is the market. Know what your market looks like. Is it going to be a challenge to find what you're looking for or will it be relatively easy? Are you searching for a "common animal" or a rarity? Knowing this will determine not only the length of your hiring timetable but also what your hiring strategy should be.

— Have a Good Map —

A good hiker sets out with an idea of the route he wants to take and an estimate of how difficult that route may be. A good hiker always takes a detailed topographical map.

It's the same in hiring. Know where you want to go — have a clear plan on how you want to get from Point A to Point B. Have a start and end date for your hiring process and make those dates clear to anyone on your team who is helping you with the hire.

— Bring the Right Gear —

A good hiker would not set out on a ten-mile hike wearing a pair of Keds, and you shouldn't set out to hire without the right gear either. What's your recruiting gear? Here are a few examples:

Are you using an internal recruiting source, the web, an outside recruiter, etc.?

Are your interviewing skills keen? Or do you need to sharpen them up? If so, get a "refresher" course from your HR professional or a fellow colleague, your recruiter, or manager.

Is your compensation plan competitive?

If your "gear" is not giving you an advantage over the hiring terrain each time you use it, then it's time to assess what you've been using and think about trading up.

— Be Prepared —

Try and plan for every contingency. The sun may be shining now on your hiring efforts, but what happens if you are out for a few weeks and things change? What happens if there is a reorganization in your company or division, or a shift in market strategy affects your hiring? Try to assemble anything you can think of to weather any transitions. Have everything in your rucksack that you may need, be it a signed authorization for the job to be filled, an accounting of your hiring or recruiting budget, etc.

And finally, watch out for the bears. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that hiring is as dangerous and risky as hiking in the wilderness on unmarked trails, with the potential of an encounter with a grizzly. I have, however, met some managers who think that the hiring process is a close second!

If those managers apply the hiking process to the hiring process however, a pleasant "walk in the park" awaits!