5 common hiring practices and why you should avoid them
Contrary to popular belief, hiring is no fun. While it does put you in a position of power and authority, one wrong hire can cost your company more time and resources than it can afford. It is imperative to judge a potential employee on three basic grounds – skills, personality, and whether they will fit in with the culture of the company. Sometimes, even that is not enough.
Slacking is not even the worst part of a wrong hire. If the misfit indulges in wrongful activities and malicious office politics, it can bring down the morale of the entire team. We've compiled a list of a few hiring mistakes and how to avoid them.
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Hiring in a hurry
When there is a member or two short in the team, the workload of the missing members gets divided among the other employees. This can make you want to fill the open positions at the earliest. But hiring in a hurry can lead to no good. If you don't take out the time to interview several candidates and you settle for the first person who walks through the door, it can only spell doom for your team.
Hiring solely based on education level
While a certain amount of educational qualification can give a potential employee an edge other the others, it is fatal to judge if he is a perfect candidate just based on a degree. The prospect's willingness to grow and evolve with the company, to learn new things, and their flexibility to work with the team are what will help the company grow in the long run.
Hiring someone similar to you
While it is always tempting to bring aboard candidates who match your style and disposition, refrain from doing so as you don't want all the people in your organisation to be the same. An employee who brings something new to the existing team and enriches your work culture with their varying interests will make your organisation better.
Not having a set hiring process
It has often been noted that organisations that lack a structured hiring process tend to hire the wrong candidates. If you lay the foundation for a set procedure, you can ensure that all potential employees are following the same steps and providing the same amount of information. A bad hire wastes more than just time and resources, and hence, a set hiring process is a must.
Waiting for the ‘perfect’ candidate
Somewhere out there is a job-seeker who has endless motivation, fabulous interpersonal skills, and the willingness to take the job at the salary you offer. Sounds perfect, doesn't he? Sadly, the ‘perfect’ candidate is but a myth. In your search for this mythical creature you will lose out on potential employees with the right skill set who are staring you in the face.
A project is a success when the team members works in sync, and a team can only work in sync when all members do their job. Putting a wrong hire amidst this team is a recipe for disaster. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to hire carefully for your company to flourish.
