Are you constantly having to hire, train, and replace employees? Is your turnover rate higher than it should be? Turnover can affect a business in many ways. It can delay production, impact customer service issues, and stress veteran employees, who may be pulled away from their duties to train new hires. All of these things can impact both morale and your bottom line. If you are constantly having to hire and train people, you may want to revisit your hiring protocols. Does your company have a staffing blind spot?
Here are some of the most common mistakes made by hiring managers:
Skill Sets
In this day and age, many positions morph and shift from their original roles. For instance, you may have a customer service clerk that was a whiz at social media, or an accountant that knew your product in and out. Make sure that the skills and certifications you require match the actual work.
Demanding Degrees
College tuition has grown more and more expensive. Fear of student debt may be one main reason that enrollment is stagnating, but it isn’t the only one. Many people opt for working their way up, or trying out a few different industries. And some people are choosing to delay college until they find a field they are in love with. While a degree does indicate a certain amount of drive, and may be necessary in certain fields, don’t automatically overlook people who don’t have that piece of paper. At the very least, consider applicants with real-life experience. Hands-on experience is often just as valuable as a degree, if not even more so.
Unclear Job Description
It may be tempting to make certain positions sound more challenging, rewarding, or exciting than they are, but this is an easy way to find yourself with a new hire who is quickly realizing that his or her new job is nothing like what they expected. Be realistic when describing your open positions.
Check References
Sometimes you may find yourself so thrilled about an applicant that you forego reference and background checks. This can be a huge mistake! Always take time to check references. Everyone knows to put their best foot forward during interviews, so it’s worth your while to make sure that you’re not being fooled by a smooth talker.
Not Involving Others
Do you handle the entire interviewing and hiring process yourself? If so, you may be inadvertently circumventing yourself, perhaps without even realizing it. Involving other people in the process allows for a more neutral overview of a candidate.
Waiting Too Long To Decide
Today’s job market moves very quickly. If your company’s process for screening and contacting applicants takes more than a few days, you may find yourself wasting time responding to applicants that are no longer available. While certain positions—such as a CFO, for instance—may take time to fill, many positions can be filled much more quickly. As the saying says, the early bird gets the worm!
Snap Judgements
It’s human nature to at times make very quick judgments about people. However, when hiring people, be aware of this common pitfall. Interviewees are often quite nervous and may stammer or stumble through the first questions just out of jitters. Don’t make any decisions until you’ve asked all relevant questions, and thoroughly read an applicant’s resume.
Not Getting Outside Help
If you’re running a tight ship, your employees—including your human resources staff—may already have full plates. Consider using a staffing company. Remember, staffing companies are in the business of matching employers and employees, and are well-versed in screening applicants.
It’s a hot market for job seekers, but recruiting the best candidates for the job isn’t always easy. The experts at Bishop & Co. know how to find qualified candidates and President Judy Bishop offers insight into how to hire the right applicant. Watch our video for a few of our tips for successful job recruitment.
Do you need help hiring for your business? Contact us because we are here to help!
