Monday Staffing Solutions: The hiring mistakes that cost small businesses

Small business owners don’t hire people every day. Recruitment usually starts when someone resigns, the business gets busier or the current team can no longer keep up with the workload. That’s when many owners discover that hiring isn’t as simple as putting up a job advert and waiting for the right person to apply. The choices you make during recruitment can affect your business long after your new employee starts. When a team is already stretched, employers often feel pressure to fill the vacancy as quickly as possible. The problem is that speed can sometimes take priority over good judgement. A candidate interviews well, seems available and gets the job. A few months later, the business is back where it started because the appointment didn’t work out. Taking an extra day or two to compare candidates is usually better than recruiting for the same position again.

Trying to find someone who can do everything

Small businesses often expect one employee to wear several hats. There’s nothing wrong with that. Some job adverts, however, ask for years of experience in different fields, even though the role doesn’t require all those skills every day. When employers expect too much, fewer people apply and vacancies stay open longer. A CV is a useful starting point, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. It won’t show how someone deals with customers, responds to pressure or works with other people. Use interviews to get to know the person instead of working through a checklist of prepared questions. Sometimes a simple conversation tells you more than a CV.

Forgetting to check the basics

Many employers leave reference checks until the end of the hiring process. A quick call can confirm employment history and give you a clearer picture of the person you’re thinking of hiring. It only takes a few minutes and could save you from making the wrong decision. Small businesses are busy, so other work often pushes recruitment down the priority list. A manager delays reviewing CVs. Someone postpones an interview until the following week. The hiring team puts off the final decision because everyone is busy. Before long, the candidate has accepted another offer. Keep the process moving, even if you can’t complete everything at once. People don’t expect to get every job they apply for.. What frustrates people is not knowing what’s happening. Even a short email explaining that you’re still interviewing candidates is better than saying nothing at all. It shows that you respect the time candidates have invested in your business. No business gets every hiring decision right. The important thing is to learn from each recruitment process and improve the next one. Small changes to the way you hire can save time, reduce costs and help you make better hiring decisions.