Hiring the right person can make or break your business. And making the wrong hire can cost you time and money, not to mention employee morale. But it doesn’t have to be that way! In this blog post, I’ll share some of the biggest hiring mistakes we’ve seen companies make (and how you can avoid them).
Unstructured interviews.
Don’t make the mistake of having an unstructured interview. This is one of the most common mistakes companies make when hiring. The problem with this type of interview is that you don’t learn anything about the employee or their skillset because they aren’t applying them in a way that allows you to see how they would perform on the job. Instead, focus on asking questions related to the position and its requirements so that you can determine if they have what it takes to succeed in that role.
Another issue with unstructured interviews is that they take up a lot more time than structured ones do – which means that most companies will only schedule them for 30 minutes or less even though many require much longer periods for candidates who need extensive Q&A sessions before making decisions about bringing them onboard (which makes sense).
So if there’s no structure involved? Then it’s just an awkward conversation where both parties feel uncomfortable answering personal questions from each other without any real direction or purpose behind them; either way you look at it – there’s nothing good coming out here!
Grammar errors on the job description.
The most important part of your job description is how it reads. The best way to ensure that your job posting will be effective and attractive is to proofread it carefully before publishing. Here’s how:
- Check for grammar errors
- Check for spelling mistakes
- Check for punctuation mistakes
That’s all there is to it! Just remember, if you want your hiring process to go smoothly, make sure your job descriptions are free from those annoying little mistakes that can frustrate applicants and waste their time.
Not asking for references.
- Don’t make the mistake of not asking for references. You should always ask for references, even if you don’t think you will need them. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and it can save you from many headaches down the line.
- How should I ask for references? When you are taking applications or conducting interviews, it is important to ensure every employee has at least one professional reference they can provide. If they don’t have any listed on their resume, then ask them directly who they would be willing to give as a reference and write down those names so that you can follow up with them later (more on this in step five).
- What happens if I don’t get a reference? If an applicant doesn’t have any listed on their application or resume, simply tell them “I see here that there aren’t any professional references listed on your application,” which allows them to add additional ones if desired (or simply move forward without getting one). You can also say something along the lines of “That’s okay! We’ll just go ahead and add [insert name] as our first choice.”
Not following up with interviewees.
- Follow up with candidates within 24 hours of the interview. This may seem obvious, but it’s surprising how often hiring managers fail to follow up with candidates as soon as possible after an interview. Even if you have other interviews lined up and have to delay contacting someone for a while, you must get back in touch at some point.
- Follow up with candidates within 24 hours of submitting their application. Similarly, once applicants have submitted their materials (resume/cover letter), it’s much easier for them to lose interest if you don’t respond quickly enough—and this can mean losing out on good candidates who might otherwise be interested in working for you!
- Follow up with candidates within 24 hours of receiving their application. If possible, even send out automated messages letting them know when they’ve been received so they don’t think no one has seen it yet!
Ghosting candidates after an interview.
- Don’t ghost candidates after an interview.
You might be wondering: why would you want to ghost an employee? Ever heard of the term “ghosting,” in which someone you were dating suddenly goes silent, and then stops responding to your messages? Well, it’s the same thing with hiring. You’re all set up for a great meeting where you’ll learn more about each other, but then suddenly it’s radio silence—no response to your follow-up emails or calls. Not only does this make you look incompetent and disorganized (which could have been avoided by scheduling a second interview), but it also leads candidates to feel like they are not a priority or important enough for the company.
A good candidate experience will improve your reputation and help you hire better candidates.
Hiring a good candidate is only the first step in your team-building process. You can have all the right tools, processes and procedures in place, but if you don’t create an experience that leaves your candidates feeling valued and respected (and maybe even excited about starting their new job), then you will not be able to build the kind of team that will thrive on its own.
A good candidate experience doesn’t just mean that you get an offer accepted from a qualified applicant—it also means making sure they understand what’s happening throughout their entire process with your company. If there are any questions or concerns along the way or during interviews and hiring decisions, make sure to address them immediately so they don’t become roadblocks for future applicants. Also, remember that even if someone accepts your job offer, there may still be some challenges down the line when it comes time for onboarding or training; these challenges should be addressed before they happen so things go smoothly upon arrival at work!
Conclusion
So, to recap, make sure your job description is grammatically correct and free of typos. In addition, take the time to ask for references from every candidate who you think might be a good fit for your organization. Also, don’t ghost candidates after an interview! If they did well during their time with you, be sure to follow up—even if it’s just with a quick email letting them know how things went and thanking them again for coming in.
In short: treat candidates well!
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