You went through the hiring process, narrowed down your list of candidates, and thought you hired the best one for the position. Yet after going through all the paperwork, and doing what you felt was due diligence, this person seems like a disaster of a hire. Where did you go wrong? What signs might you have missed? In other words, how can you keep this from happening again?
- The cost of a bad hire. Think beyond money; although the U.S. Department of Labor puts it at 30 percent or more of that employee’s first-year earnings. Thus, if you have a smaller business, that can have significantly negative effects. Beyond that, a bad hire can seriously affect team morale, leading to lowered ability to meet deadlines and standards – and shared goals. Whether by themselves or as a snowball effect, the wrong hire will have an impact on your bottom line.
- In the interview. If this person seems less than enthusiastic or unmotivated, they will have that same personality once hired. Similarly, it’s a red flag if the candidate has obviously done little to no “homework” researching the company. That shows not only a lack of enthusiasm but a lack of interest in doing the necessary preparation. You don’t want to see that come out on the job.
- Unprofessional behavior. This covers quite a spread, from lack of punctuality (a possible sign of irresponsibility) to treating receptionists poorly before even starting the interview. Even the most talented on paper need to prove themselves with their behavior. And if they share sensitive info or put down an employer, you don’t want that person anywhere near your team. Double-check social media posts as well to see what they deem appropriate to share.
- After hiring. If you hired someone who spends a lot of work time on social media, especially within the first few weeks of hiring, address it immediately. The hire who does this when they’re learning the ropes will do it more six months down the road if you don’t say something. You also want to be wary of the hire who immediately asks about a promotion. This may hint they’re using you as a stepping stone to somewhere bigger and better or they don’t want to put the time in to earn the next position.
Most red flags will come up before the actual hire, so be on the lookout for them. For hiring advice or to find your next great candidate, work with PrideStaff.
