The #1 Recruitment Mistake You Are Probably Making
As much as we try to learn from our mistakes, sometimes the mistake is hard to see and the lesson is missed.
This is often true for hiring failures. It is easier to blame the person rather than the process. Accordingly, the recruitment process re-commences, open to repeating the same mistake.
So, what is the mistake? Hiring on Skills and Experience but ignoring Behaviours.
Skills and experience are relatively easy to identify. This can often lead to the interviewer and candidate having an engaging discussion and creating a strong connection. At this point, the interview is better described as a conversation, and a job offer is imminent.
Behaviours are the thing that you will notice most when the new employee joins the business. It is how they act and conduct themselves, especially towards others.
Below is a list of positive and negative behaviours relevant to the workplace:
Positive
- Collaborative
- Accountable
- Initiative
- Problem Solver
- Adaptable
Negative
- Abrupt/Rude
- Missing meetings/deadlines
- Negative mindset
- Resistant to feedback/change
- Gossip
When a hiring failure occurs, the explanation is often, ‘they were not a cultural fit.’ This is code for you did not get the behaviours right. And the reason for this is that they were not assessed.
In the next edition of The Corner Office, I will provide some methodologies that you may find helpful for behavioural assessment.
