Hiring Mistake – The Top Five Reasons

A job vacancy has been filled. You breathed a sigh of relief. But wait a minute…

One week passed

Two weeks came and gone

One month and then two months…

He’s been here for two months now. But he does not seem to be performing. We obviously got in the wrong guy.

Doubts surfaced.

Have I made the mistake of hiring him? He seems to be so right for the job. What went wrong?

The top five common mistakes:-

1. Did not do any reference check on candidates. An easy step but often overlooked by hiring managers. (Referencing checking on Potential Employees)

2. Job opening is an urgent one. Out of desperation, the hire was made to any candidate that can start work immediately. Other candidates may be more suitable but they have to give at least one month’s notice. We can’t wait that long!

3. Candidate was a “smooth” talker. The “excellent” verbal communication skills and the charm of the candidate had “blinded” your judgment. Instead of considering the most qualified candidate that matches the requirements of the job, you were wowed by the “great” personality demonstrated by the candidate.

4. Candidate was recommended by someone within the organization, probably somebody in higher authority. Candidate did not go through a proper interview process, hence, no one really knows whether there is a match or not.

5. Hiring manager is not well-trained. As simple as that. We hate to admit it but if you are not trained, you tend to hire people that you like and able to connect with, rather than the most suitable person.

These are the common reasons and they should warn us to take the necessary precautions to avoid such pitfalls.

But let’s be honest, hiring mistakes happened, even to the shrewdest among us.