As a leading staffing agency serving the greater Cleveland area since 1987, we fully understand that there are times when you have to make an immediate hire. However, here are four reasons to consider holding out just a little longer for a better candidate.
Rushing the process is the number one reason for bad hiring decisions
Studies show that rushing to get a body in the cubicle is the number one reason for bad hiring decisions. When you’re in a mad dash and hire someone out of desperation, you miss out on the warning signs that your candidate is not what they appear. Or worse, you settle on a candidate you don’t like just because you haven’t had time to talk to anyone else. Instead, take your time in the hiring process and really focus on the candidates you’re interviewing. Make a list of the skills and qualifications your ideal candidate has, and don’t hire a candidate that isn’t a good match.
You need more candidate information
If you’re rushed to make a hiring decision, you tend to cut important corners like reference and background checks. It may take a little extra time, but you should do your homework on a candidate, just like they do their homework on you. Doing so could save you from having to fire a bad employee later on. Check references and ask about the candidate’s prior work history, strengths, and weaknesses. Make sure you’re getting the information you need, not just the information the candidate chooses to share with you.
You need time to review resumes
Picking up the resume for the first time as the candidate walks into your office is not a good hiring strategy. You need time to review resumes and prepare questions. Preparation means treating hiring as an important activity necessary to expand your business. Know what you are looking for when you hire. Identify the business problem the person is going to solve, and then determine what the person has to do to satisfy that business problem. Getting a more personal feel for a candidate earlier in the process is a good way to sort through your applicants without missing great talent.
Holding out eliminates jumping to conclusions
Many hiring managers claim to make a decision after the first three to five minutes of an interview. Decisions made in this amount of time are based on impressions, not on facts. It takes more than five minutes to gather enough information to make an informed decision on whether a candidate is the best fit for the job. You need time to ask more questions and gather information based on data. The more data you have, the more educated your decision will be.
The bottom line is that you need to put the same effort into your hiring decisions that you do in all other areas of your business decisions. Doing so requires taking a step back and allowing more time for the hiring process. Just remember, it’s always better to be wishing you had the right employee than it is to be working with someone and wishing you hadn’t hired them.
A large part of hiring the right employee is attracting the right applicants. Whether you’re looking for qualified temporary workers, temp-to-hire or direct hire employees, Area Temps can meet your requirements. Our exclusive applicant network features over 86,000 skilled candidates from the Greater Cleveland and Akron areas. Contact us today and we’ll help tailor a staffing solution that works for your company.
