5 Recruiting Mistakes to Avoid in Today’s Hiring Climate

February 26, 2023

​People are the engine of any organization; they can either drive it forward to success or cause you to break down on the side of the road. To get the right people on your team, you need an effective and efficient recruitment process that attracts top talent while mitigating costs. Of course, this is easier said than done, and it’s all too common that employers make a mistake along the way — especially in today’s challenging hiring climate.

While a clerical error likely won’t have devastating consequences, a bad hiring decision certainly can. According to Northwestern University, a single bad hire costs an organization at least 30% of that person’s first-year expected earnings. But these decisions are often just a symptom of a larger, more systemic issue.

As the competition heats up and challenges increase in complexity, it’s time to rethink your recruiting strategy. To help you make the right decisions, here are the top five hiring mistakes you need to avoid:

1. Delivering a Poor Candidate Experience

Candidates are assessing your brand as much as you’re assessing their skills and culture fit. Something as simple as a missed email or late reply can leave a bad taste in their mouth, causing them to look elsewhere or lose interest. In fact, 58% of jobseekers declined an offer due to a poor experience during the hiring process. Companies simply can’t afford the consequences of a poor candidate engagement.

When your recruitment strategy emphasizes the importance of a positive hiring experience, you’ll not only attract more applicants but keep them interested throughout the hiring process.

2. Rushing the Recruiting Process

Hiring managers often feel pressured to expedite the hiring process, especially when vital positions are left unfilled. However, finding the right placement in a short turnaround can lead to immense workloads that overburden your team. This can cause high turnover in and of itself, but even worse, the time crunch can result in an unsuccessful hire that ends up costing you more in the long run.

Instead of rushing to secure the first qualified candidate, take the time to discuss the qualities you’re looking for with your team and company leaders. Make sure you’re not overlooking any red flags and pay close attention to soft skills and culture fit.

3. Ignoring Culture Fit

A candidate’s personality and ability to fit in with your work culture is vital to their success in your company. Without the right match, even top talent could end up causing conflict or leaving the organization altogether. On top of culture fit, many recruiters overlook an applicant’s ability to add to company culture.

It’s essential to not just consider how a candidate will fit in and align with your company’s values, but how they will add unique value through their skills, perspectives, and experiences.

4. Confusing Job Descriptions

Ambiguous or inaccurate job descriptions can quickly lead to confusion about a role’s responsibilities and requirements, not to mention your company as a whole. Without setting realistic expectations, you may end up hiring someone that leaves immediately once they realize the misrepresentation.

When drafting your job descriptions, clear communication is essential. You’ll need to outline the exact primary job functions, showcase your company culture, and explain any professional development or growth opportunities.

5. Relying too Heavily on External or Active Recruiting

If your recruiting strategy focuses solely on external candidates that are in the job market, you’re likely missing valuable opportunities. Look within your company and identify potential internal candidates. These employees already have the advantage of knowing your company and how it works, all you need to do is provide training to up- or re-skill them for a new position.

Additionally, you can expand your talent pool by going after external passive candidates. These are people that are not actively job seeking, but effective outreach and an enticing offer can go a long way in persuading them to change employers.

Revamp Your Recruitment Process With Envision

Whether you want to attract high-quality passive candidates or you need help enhancing your strategy, Envision has the talent acquisition solutions for your business. As the leading provider of recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) services, our recruiters are experts in the industry, ready to support your success.

Interested in learning more? Contact us today to see how RPO can help your team navigate today’s hiring climate.