Ever heard of the “round peg in the square hole” syndrome? It
can essentially be used to describe a situation where you have
hired the wrong person for the right job or vice versa.
Most companies generally hire employees based on their essential
qualifications and experience. However it holds wise to remember
that there are a multitude of factors that need to be kept in
mind, while hiring a new incumbent. No matter how long it takes
to find the perfect person for the job, it pays to wait for the
right candidate to walk in than hurry and choose an ineffectual.
Sadly in spite of a growing awareness about these factors, a lot
of companies still go wrong in the hiring process and end up
placing the wrong person for the job. A wrong hire does not only
add to the cost burden but also to the work and time burden of a
company. As is often said, ‘wrong hiring is worse than no
hiring’.
This article seeks to provide you with answers to the essential
question: Why do so many companies still make the same mistakes?
Additionally giving you pointers on what you should remember
during the interviewing process.
Look beyond qualifications and experience
Generally, when a job need has been identified, HR executives
draw up a brief, detailing the job tasks and the relevant
qualifications and experience needed from potential candidates.
So while IQ and aptitude required for the job is listed, the EQ
and attitude required for the job is given a see–through. The
failure, to assess the inter-personal and intra-personal
qualities needed of an individual for a job, is one of the more
common reasons for hiring a mismatch.
Pointer#1 To avoid this mistake remember to list the
qualities you think are required for a job profile. This makes
for a scientific hiring process. One that will help you pick the
right candidates from the wrong.
Prepare for the interview
An interview is by far the most accepted method to recruit new
employees. Given its criticality many companies, in reality,
rarely give a thought to planning the interview process. The
fallout of an unplanned interview is that the right questions
remain unasked, leaving you with a misfit in hand.
Pointer #2 Plan the interview. Determine the questions
you want and a general guideline of the answers you expect for
the same. As an interviewer, YOU need to guide the interview
process. A well-thought interview process will effectively help
you to evaluate a person’s skills and determine if he/she is the
right candidate for the job.
Follow the 80/20 rule
An adage that interviewers generally tend to forget is that “It
pays to listen”. More often than not, it’s the interviewers who
end up talking more than the interviewees!
Pointer #3 While interviewing follow the 80/20 principle:
Listen 80% - Talk 20%. You need to learn as much about the
candidate as you can, to best judge if the incumbent is the best
fit for the job. At the same time, remember to allocate
sufficient time to brief the candidate on the company and the
basic job requirements.
We’ve listed some of the more common reasons for wrong hires.
What if you’ve already made a wrong decision? In such
circumstances, just be patient and let the person grow into the
job- have them groomed for the job by offering them the
necessary training and letting them learn on the job. Else, you
may want to examine the possibility of redirecting the candidate
to a job more suited to his aptitude and skill set.
All said and done, the hiring process should be dealt with, with
more care and thought. While this ready reckoner will make your
job of interviewing easier, it definitely pays to hire a
professional staffing company.
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