Hiring Right the First Time: Why It Matters More Than You Think

When you’re looking to build your team, it isn’t just about filling an open position, it’s about building your business. And hiring the wrong person? It’s one of the most expensive mistakes you can make.

Searching, interviewing and onboarding new team members takes significant time and resources. There is cost associated with posting job openings. Screening takes the time of someone on your team. And, then you’ll need to spend even more time interviewing candidates.

And, recruiting is just the start. The cost of training includes the time of other team members, the loss of productivity while a employee is getting up to speed, and potentially duplication of work.

If you don’t get it right, the costs can drag your business down. Your customers feel the strain when you’re transitioning new employees. Team morale may be affected when employees leave. A bad hire can ripple through your organization in ways that aren’t always obvious, until it’s too late.  

So how do you get it right the first time?

Start with clarity. Before you post the job, create a clear job description and a scorecard to measure performance. A scorecard should define the mission of the role, the key outcomes, and required skills that would help someone thrive in your business.

Take time during your recruiting process. Ask more questions. Require candidates to answer questions when they apply before you even schedule them for an interview. If they can’t take the time to answer thoughtfully, don’t waste your time on interviews. For those candidates that make it to the interview process, ask deeper questions. Dive into past experiences, challenges they’ve overcome, and what motivates them. Schedule more than one interview. Start with a short interview, maybe via phone or video. Then, bring a candidate in to meet with multiple members of your team. Listen for alignment with your company’s values.

Hiring is an investment. When you take the time to do it well, you set your business up for long-term sustainability.