Four Signs You May Have Hired the Wrong Employee

Recruitment and hiring are a substantial investment for all businesses. Reducing turnover and retaining talent is an important priority. But occasionally even the most experienced hiring managers bring on someone who is not perfect for the job. While most companies are not fully able to put a number on the actual expense of a bad hire, it’s reasonable to say that it can negatively impact a company in a variety of ways, such as lost training costs, sunk project revenue and productivity, overall compensation, recruiting fees, and even separation bonuses. Here are 4 hints  to help you identify a bad hire early before they can cause too much damage.

A Surprise Knowledge Gap

If you find yourself regularly surprised by the gaps in your new hire’s knowledge base, there is a pretty good chance that you didn’t dig deep enough into their expertise in the interview phase. While of course there is a learning curve to every new job, noticeable miscommunication or simple lack of knowledge can catch you off guard and indicate that they are not a good fit for the position they were hired to fill. Sometimes, someone who seems so well-equipped to handle the job during the interview process is really just great at selling their resume. But when the rubber meets the road, it takes actual skills and knowledge to succeed. Offer what support is reasonable, but recognize that there comes a point when they just aren’t going to meet your needs.

Scattered Availability

Any gaps in a new hire’s availability should be ironed out and agreed to prior to their first day on the job. If they surprise you with upcoming unavailability, that could leave you in a bind when it comes to finding coverage for their absence. You want to make sure your new hires are focused on their current role and more often than not, that requires them to be in the thick of things.

Divided Attention

Have you ever had to deal with a new hire who seemed like their priorities were always elsewhere? Are they constantly on the phone or have to leave early a little too often? That might be a good sign that they are not as invested in their new position as you are in them. Some hires will hedge their bets and continue the job search while onboarding for a new position that only partially meets their needs. These hires are particularly troublesome because their sudden departure can leave you and your team in a bind when you scramble to find a quick replacement. Not to mention the likelihood of lost financial incentives and time spent training the new hire can hurt your bottom line.

Re-Negotiation

Another sign of a bad hire is someone who immediately tries to re-negotiate critical elements of their role or compensation after being brought on board. These details should be hashed out during the interview or job offer phase. Hires who don’t recognize this may be trying to take advantage of the situation knowing that you are already invested in them and you likely don’t want to pick up the hiring process where you left off.

About Snelling Georgia Group

If you’re looking for staff in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, Snelling Georgia Group is at your service! We’ll work with you to understand your needs and place you with candidates who fit your company and culture. To learn more, contact us today!

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