Smart businesses understand that the best investment is making good hires.
Well, from the costs incurred during the recruitment process, training to disruption of staff normal morale, the effects and price of making bad hires comes with far-reaching consequences. For big companies, bad hires can have a significant impact on its financial status. Small businesses suffer the most as it jeopardizes the future of the company and its clients.
In many cases, bad hires occur when a company gives in to the pressure of filling in a position quickly. This results in shortcuts in the recruitment process. Whereas there is always a risk when filling a vacant position, hiring managers should screen properly before bringing an employee on-board to eliminate such risks. That said, below are ways in which bad hires can affect your company and how you can make sure you are avoiding bad hires.
1. Decreased Productivity
If the candidate description in the resume does not match with the person, in reality, they will not deliver to their position. This has a direct effect on the overall productivity of the business. Other staff will also strain and work hard to meet deadlines and targets, affecting the team’s morale. Bad hires often drive off the best team players. In most cases, the best team members switch sides to your competition, taking with them their knowledge, skills, and expertise. Bad hires also lower the standards for the entire team.
To prevent this from happening, you should provide a specific job description when advertising for the vacant post. Identify and stress on the specific skills a candidate should possess to be considered. You should as well conduct thorough pre-employment tests to ascertain the potential of your prospective hire.
2. Bad Reputation
Bad hires, especially those dealing with clients directly, can affect customer relationships if not treated well. Note that client relationships are not easy to rebuild once broken. Therefore, companies should ensure that employees interacting with their clients should enhance, maintain the already built reputation, and avoid harming it. That aside, bad hires also affects internal reputation. The company’s staff will question the top-level management’s capacity to make smart decisions if they make wrong hires.
The best way to prevent this is by avoiding bias hiring. This occurs when hiring managers make decisions without realizing the various factors involved. Before making hiring decisions, the managers should be aware of subtle biases that can prevent them from making good hires. For instance, some jobs are women dominated. This can hinder hiring a male candidate, who could be the best fit.
3. Financial Impact
Any effect of bad hires often culminates in financial setbacks to the company. Businesses incur the cost of hiring, training, lost or reduced productivity, and increased turnover. The cost of hiring and professionally developing new employees is on the rise. Therefore, to avoid wasting resources, time, and money, it is prudent that a company observes due diligence before hiring candidates.
First, make sure that the company really needs someone to fill the position. Second, screen the candidates thoroughly, conduct pre-employment testing, and ask for referrals. After hiring, you should as well pay attention to individual performance. This will help you determine if the candidate is the right fit early.
Bad hires affect businesses in many ways. Productivity, customer relations, and finance are the most affected aspects of a business. Therefore, always conduct cautious hiring to get the right talent that can help you build the business.