IDEA: Gather great ideas from interviewed candidates whether hired or not. A good idea is a good idea.

When interviewing candidates for open positions, most managers will ask the candidate how they cut cost, streamlined operations, improved department efficiency and most importantly what great ideas they used at their previous jobs to increase the company’s bottom line.  Most candidates will mention something they observed but a few will talk about great ideas that may work if implemented by your own company.  You cannot hire all candidates but you can use good ideas every day you hear them.  Just because you did not pick a candidate who had a great idea or example he relayed to you is no reason  not to use it yourself in your own company.  Make it a standard practice to write down ideas derived from employment candidate interviews and pass them on to the suggestion committee or upper management to implement.  If you wish to give suggestions awards to non-employees, you might consider sending an award to the candidate even though he was not hired.  Once he gets the check, he may send you more ideas and if great, you should use them and pay him if they save you significant money.