Introduction
Recruiting the right person to fill the company’s voids is often one of the most important things that determine the company’s growth, productivity and future. Yet, it is easier said than done to hire the right person that serves the company for a significant time. In the following, the 10 most common hiring mistakes will be highlighted and tips would be provided on how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Unstructured recruitment process
Recruiting someone requires a long-term vision. Seniors need to understand what the organization wants to achieve in the next five years, and how they are going to utilise their employees to get there.
A framework is required to recruit strategically. However, many recruiters stress speed above quality under pressure to fill positions, leading to the omission of critical elements in the hiring process. Sometimes recruiting managers are so desperate that they employ anybody who applies, regardless of whether or not that individual is a good match for the job or the company. Employment without structure leads to ineffective individuals, which diminishes productivity and increases attrition.
Solution
While it is usually necessary to fill a position quickly, companies must strive to strike a balance between speed and quality in the hiring process. Recruiters might resist the push from recruiting managers to fill the position faster by outlining how the speed-quality trade-off will influence the company's success.
Have the phases of the recruiting process put out in front of you so you know when you need to do what. You can recruit more efficiently if you know exactly how to go in each phase of the recruiting process. Using a recruiting flowchart to sketch out your recruitment funnel and define what has to happen at each stage can help you maintain the hiring process simplified and consistent. You may also utilize an applicant tracking system to assist you in managing the hiring process.
Mistake 2: Unstructured interview
Unstructured refers to a procedure that does not follow HR's prescribed framework. The recruiting managers and present employees interviewing the candidate are solely responsible for any preparation, quizzing, questioning, or other procedure. This implies that each talk becomes a unique experience, and that level of individuality makes unconscious prejudice come into play.
Solution
Plan your interview questions ahead of time, but leave room for flexibility. Set up your structured interview question set in your applicant tracking system and add your recruiting manager as a user.
You should allow for some flexibility during the interview and make sure that specific questions are addressed can benefit you later in the process. Also, include structured interviews in your hiring policy, and make sure your templates are accessible to everyone on your talent acquisition platform. Structured interviews may appear to be constraining, but they are one of the most effective interviewing techniques.
Mistake 3: Rushing into an offer
Hiring someone quickly without completing your diligence might be just as terrible as hiring someone too slowly. There may be a pressing need to recruit someone, especially if other employees cover the function and place them under additional strain. However, rushing through the procedure may cause you to overlook crucial facts that might prove costly later.
Solution
Set a reasonable deadline for posting the job ad and completing the hiring process. You may then share this information with the rest of the team to estimate how long it will take to recruit a replacement employee. Ensure that you are doing all of the necessary checks, such as online skills assessments and contacting references. In this case, a checklist might be useful; by assigning a time limit to each task, you can keep on track and avoid missing anything important.
Mistake 4: Failing to engage with candidates
While recruitment software makes the entire hiring process easier, we tend to over-rely on technology, which may make the process feel impersonal and dehumanizing to prospects. Recruiters should try to make personal contacts with candidates.
Solution
Applicants should be contacted at every level of the hiring process. At the very least, acknowledge receipt of the application and inform the applicant of the recruiting schedule. Inform the applicants of the following actions and when you plan to take them. Any delays should be communicated to your prospects. 81 % of job seekers believe that companies giving progress updates to them regularly would significantly improve their entire experience, resulting in a favorable impression of the company
Mistake 5: Not considering internal candidates
Companies may have a legitimate motive for wishing to hire fresh staff from outside the company. Perhaps they lack certain expertise or are searching for further experience. However, you must be aware of the personnel you already have and understand their capabilities. Current workers may tend to believe that they cannot advance with your firm if you do not offer them roles. As a consequence, you may lose disgruntled employees.
Solution
Internal job openings might help you avoid this issue. Some businesses attempt to attract current employees before advertising the position publicly. This offers your team an advantage over the rest of the field. Even if you advertise the job inside and outside at the same time, your employees will appreciate the possibility to advance within the company.
Mistake 6: Talking rather than listening
Interviews are an opportunity for you to learn more about your applicants. This is why refusing to give them a chance to speak is ineffective. Your questions may not be structured in such a manner that they simply demand easy responses regarding their expertise, background, and experience without providing much insight into their problem-solving talents or worldview.
Solution
Asking open-ended questions necessitates a meaningful response that not only provides you with information about their past but also allows them to talk about and reveal themselves. Allow for awkward quiet if necessary. Tell them to think about their responsibilities for a bit. They will do their best to fill it, and you will learn a lot more than you would otherwise. The role of an interviewer is to ask questions that elicit a long, thorough response.
Mistake 7: Searching for perfection
Some businesses go to great lengths to discover the ideal applicant, even if that candidate does not exist. For instance, while you may want to hire someone who can jump right in, you may need to understand that some training will be required.
Solution
Consider the position you want to fill. Are the needed talents ones that you would expect a lot of people to have? Will they be dealing with machinery or equipment that requires specialized knowledge? If the answer is yes, but you are having trouble finding applicants who have that training as well as the other abilities you want, you might choose to focus on individuals who have the other skills you require, to train them in other areas during their first months on the job.
Mistake 8: Underestimating the power of referrals
Some recruiting supervisors make it a habit to ask for recommendations. Employers believe that referrals are more appropriate for their organization than others. They also have a higher work satisfaction rate and stay with the organization for longer periods. Referrers are said to have taken them under their wing and personally onboarded them, resulting in their improved performance. Whatever the situation may be, you are receiving good recruits once your present personnel has vetted them.
Solution
Try to take referrals from your fellows, they may be good suits for your position.
Mistake 9: Making the process last longer than necessary
According to a survey, HR managers waste 14 hours each week on average because they must conduct activities manually. Time is money, and no business can afford to waste it.
Furthermore, if the process takes too long, the top candidates will leave if they receive an offer from a company that can move more quickly. 60% of recruiters admit to losing applicants before an interview has been set.
Solution
Recruiting software may help you save time by automating several aspects of the hiring process, such as organizing interviews and confirming appointments and doing background and reference checks.
The first step is to figure out the bottlenecks in your hiring process and then discover ways to get around them. For example, if you discover that candidates often ask particular queries, you might use a recruiting chatbot to assist them with typical concerns.
Mistake 10: Misleading job descriptions
Another major reason you're having trouble keeping your staff pleased is that you weren't completely transparent when you recruited them.
Always create reasonable, well-balanced goals for yourself. They will be unimpressed if you oversell, and they may feel pressured if you undersell.
Solution
The most important thing is that before you start on a hiring spree, HR has to analyze and grasp the job criteria.
How Zebra can help you?
As a leading human resources agency in Hong Kong, Zebra takes pride in providing professional and comprehensive recruitment services. Zebra has a huge candidate pool with lots of talents and experts that suit your role. With a thorough understanding of the job criteria for different positions across different industries in the world, Zebra helps you to select the candidate who is the best fit for the position and contribute to the growth of your business. You need to be worried about hiring the wrong person with the help of Zebra.
