Have you ever made a big hiring mistake? As one of the top staffing agencies in Houston, TX, Murray Resources knows if you’re like most experienced managers, the answer is “yes.” And you’re certainly not alone. In fact, according to one study by CEB Global, hiring managers admitted that 20% of their employees shouldn’t have been hired in the first place. That’s one in five new hires! That’s also a lot of time and money wasted.

So how can you avoid making expensive hiring mistakes? Start by avoiding these 5 regrets:

1. Not checking references.

Just because the candidate is your best friend’s cousin doesn’t mean you should skip the reference checking process. This is your chance to ensure everything they told you aligns with reality. It’s also an opportunity to gain deeper insight into their background, skills and results. It’s a step you don’t want to miss out on.

2. Not checking skills.

For positions where skill checking or employment testing is appropriate, do it. You won’t regret it. Plus there are literally hundreds of different types of tests available online that don’t cost a lot. Requiring these kinds of tests will not only help ensure you hire the best person for the position, but it will also give you more peace of mind about your decision and the process.

3. Not evaluating attitude.

Sure, the person you hire needs the right technical skills to do the job. But don’t focus solely on hard skills and forget to evaluate soft ones. These includes skills such as communication, collaboration, conflict resolution and organizational abilities. Even when a candidate has the strongest skills, they won’t thrive at your organization of they don’t have the right personality and attitude.

4. Letting personal biases get in the way.

Maybe the candidate is from the same hometown as you, or they went to the same college. This can make you feel more of affinity for them then you typically would. But don’t let these personal feelings get in the way of your hiring decisions. Remember, you need to hire the person who’s the strongest fit and most likely to succeed; not the one you like best.

5. Not going with your gut.

Something a candidate’s reference said caught you off-guard. Or a candidate said all the right things, but their body language communicated a different message. Whatever the case, your gut is telling you not to hire this person. Don’t ignore the warning bells. Reach out to others on the hiring committee and talk to them about your reservations before making a move. Perhaps there’s a good explanation, or maybe the candidate just isn’t the right fit for you.

Would you like expert help avoiding hiring mistakes in the future? Call Murray Resources. As one of the top staffing agencies in Houston, TX, Murray Resources has worked with Houston’s leading organizations since 1988 to identify their human resource needs, locate top talent, and maximize employee productivity. Contact us today to learn more and find out how we can help you.