Roger Gilpin of Lee Hecht Harrison
(LHH) in Northern Ireland offers advice on how to combat ‘bad hiring’.
Anyone
who owns or manages a business will recognise that making a poor decision in
relation to new recruits can be an extremely costly mistake.
Recent
studies undertaken by Recruitment Buzz revealed that within
the UK, 41% of companies estimated that bad hiring decisions had cost them more
than £16,000, with one in four companies claiming that this figure was over
£30,000.
With
competition for jobs fiercer than ever, more and more organisations are looking
at the measures they can implement to prevent a ‘bad hire’ situation. These
include:
1.
Look for evidence. Candidates know what
an employer wants to hear, and almost everyone these days is ‘dependable and
hardworking’ so you need to be specific. During the interview, ask for examples
of situations where they have demonstrated the skills you have asked for that they
claim to possess. This will help to save you time and money by avoiding
re-training or recruiting further down the line.
2.
What is your job
specification?
Once you have written a job specification with detailed skills and experience
that you require, stick to it. Someone may be talented, but if they are not
right for the role you are advertising then they are unsuitable.
3.
Interview twice. Or more than twice if
necessary. First impressions may be important, but having a second interview
can be extremely revealing. The best candidates will build on knowledge they
picked up from the first interview. If they have nothing new to add, then take
it as a warning sign. A phone interview is often a good way to screen
candidates before meeting them in person.
4.
Speak to references. This is absolutely
crucial to ensuring you have made the right decision. If the candidate’s
previous company refuses to give a reference, then you have a right to feel
suspicious.
5.
How badly do they
want it?
Be sure your candidate wants this job and not just a job. If they
genuinely want to work for you, they will have done their research and know everything
about your organisation. Ask questions about your own company and why this role
specifically appeals to them.
For more information
on how you can avail of our outplacement services, please contact us on: 0845
456 2269
