5 Mistakes People Make When Recruiting

Recruiting a new member of staff can be a long and arduous process particularly if you are looking for a senior member of staff such as an executive. Time is money when it comes to business, so we have created a list of mistakes to avoid when recruiting.

A Vague Job Description

You need to be clear in your job description as to what you would like the new member of your team to do particularly if they will have a high level of responsibility. Remember this is the only thing they will see when making their decision whether to apply or not. You need to be clear what is expected of them, and what skills and experience are required. This could save you lots of time in the long run.

Not proactively Headhunting

It’s a big mistake to think there are lots of people just waiting to work for your company. The reality is you need to put in some work. You can’t just post a job ad and expect lots of responses – you need to find potentially suitable candidates too. Executive recruiters such as Y Scouts have a pool of candidates that are in their contact sphere – so it could be an option to reach out to them.  An executive search firm can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.  

Not Using Social Media to your Advantage

Companies should be using social media for a multitude of reasons not just actually posting vacancies out there. One of the first things an applicant will (or should) do will have a look on your website and social media channels to find out more about you. You are looking to attract new candidates just as much as they are looking for a position – so make sure you have regular updates on your company activity.

Not Standardizing the Interview Process

Companies can slack a little when it comes to interview processes. You should be specific in the questions you want to ask prospective candidates – and keep this the same across the board. Alternatively, there will be no benchmark to mark candidates against which will make it much more difficult for you to choose.  A point scoring system could be the best practice for you, as then you will have a clear outcome. 

Taking too Long to Decide

One of the biggest mistake’s companies make when hiring new candidates is taking too long to decide on a suitable candidate and then delaying the process of reaching out to them.  If a candidate is of good quality, it could be that they have been headhunted elsewhere or that they have other job interviews they have gone to. Make sure you act on the results on your interview quickly, so you don’t miss out on the right person for the job.  

If you are in the process of hiring someone new for your business, make sure you don’t fall into the trap of making these easy to avoid mistakes.