A bad hire can cost you money, time and morale. The best way to avoid a hiring mistake is to do your homework before you interview candidates.
Make sure you have a well-written job description with a detailed candidate profile. Spend a few hours building these up before you start recruiting, and you’ll save days of wasting your time with candidates who don’t meet your minimum requirements. You can seek help with that by contacting your local Hawaii employment office.
Ask progressively difficult questions to get to know your candidates and to see how they react under pressure. Ask about their worldview and how they see themselves in your company’s culture. Don’t get hung up on qualifications, as sometimes the most experienced person may not be the best fit.
It is very important to find out whether a potential employee has a good work ethic and can work in a team. You can do this by asking them how they have coped with past stress and challenging situations at their previous workplaces. This is an excellent indicator of their character and a crucial factor in finding out whether they will be a good fit for your company.
You should also pay close attention to a candidate’s enthusiasm in their responses. It is a sign that they are truly interested in your company and not just looking for a way to pay their bills. A passionate, enthusiastic candidate will generate positive energy for your team and boost business performance.
While it’s important to keep in mind a candidate’s past failures, you should also assess their positive qualities and personality traits. You want a candidate who is able to think outside the box, is willing to take risks and can adapt to changes in the work environment. For example, if you are hiring for a sales position, you would want to hire a candidate who is optimistic rather than pessimistic.
A strong candidate will be able to articulate how they plan to grow in their new role and what skills they would need to develop to do so. They should also have a solid understanding of your industry, and the challenges you face as a business. They should also be able to articulate how they would approach and solve problems, as well as their management style.
You should always check a candidate’s social media profile to get a better idea of their professional and personal life. You should also ask about their hobbies and what they like to do in their free time. This will give you an idea of how they might fit into your company’s culture and work ethic. You should also stay in touch with runners-up after you’ve found the perfect candidate. This will allow you to quickly tap into a pool of skilled applicants next time you have an open position.
