9 Signs You May Have Made a Bad Hiring Choice (and What to Do Next)
Welcome to Recruiter Q&A, where we pose employment-related questions to the experts and share their answers!
Today’s Question: What’s one sign that you may have made a bad hiring choice ? What should be your next step once you realize this?
These answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization composed of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs. YEC members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue each year, and have created tens of thousands of jobs.
1. The Hire Doesn’t Fit the Company Culture
If you notice that the person you hired doesn’t seem to fit in with the company culture, it’s a good indication that they’re not the right fit. Once you realize this, sit down with the hire and try to identify the source of the problem. If it’s simply a case of mismatched expectations, it is possible to work out a solution. However, if the problem is more fundamental, it may be best to part ways. — Sujay Pawar, CartFlows
2. They Are Quick to Shift the Blame
The one sign that you might have made a bad hiring choice is when the recruit prefers office politics over brainstorming. These hires are quick to blame others for their shortcomings and never take responsibility for their actions. There are different signs that can help you detect such tendencies. Your next step should be to bid farewell to the new hire, as they generally do more harm than good. — Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
3. They Aren’t Meeting Their KPIs
One red flag is when your employee is consistently struggling to meet their key performance indicators (KPIs). When I end up in this situation, I offer to meet with the new hire for one-on-one training sessions a few times a week. These hands-on meetings often help turn a bad short-term decision into a positive experience. — Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
4. You’re Hearing Negative Feedback From Their Peers or Supervisors
Negative feedback from peers or supervisors is a strong signal that you may have made a poor hire. This rule doesn’t apply in restructuring or turnaround situations, however, where the new hire is expected to potentially create friction within existing teams. The most valuable feedback comes from the new hire’s direct supervisor; if they can’t work with them, begin the offboarding process as soon as possible. — Andrew Schrage, Money Crashers Personal Finance
5. They Aren’t Showing Up on Time
I can tell I made a poor hiring choice if the new employee doesn’t show up for training on time. Some situations are out of our control, but if a new employee is consistently tardy with no explanation, it’s a sign that they may not be a good fit for our business. My next step is to explain the importance of timeliness and insist that they meet our requirements. — John Turner, SeedProd LLC
6. They Aren’t Able to Handle the Demands of Their Position
One sign that you may have made a bad hiring choice is if your employee is not able to handle their job and the tasks that go with it. If the employee cannot complete their tasks within the time allocated, or does not even try, then it is likely the hire was a bad decision. The next step in this scenario should be to see if you can help them. If not, then it’s time to let the employee go. — Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
7. They Don’t Inspire Confidence
With senior or executive hires, I know I’ve screwed up when I find myself frequently second-guessing them or getting too involved in their area of expertise. A great hire, in contrast, inspires confidence from the outset by demonstrating a clear understanding of what they’ve been hired to do: communicating a well-reasoned and defensible plan, executing the plan, and providing frequent progress reports. — Ben Landers, Blue Corona
8. They Aren’t Able to Be Independent
If you find yourself spoon-feeding your new hire, it may be a sign that you’ve made a bad hiring choice. Your next step should be to reassess the situation and determine whether or not this person is a good fit for the position. If not, it’s best to let them go and move on. — Pratik Chaskar, Spectra
9. They Immediately Ask for Perks
A big red flag to me is when the individual immediately starts asking for perks or changes like vacation time off. It comes across as the person not being very serious or invested in their new position and their role in the bigger picture. It feels as though their focus is elsewhere, rather than jumping into the company culture and seeing how they can make a difference. — Blair Thomas, eMerchantBroker
What to Do If You Recognize These Signs That You Hired the Wrong Employee
If you’ve recognized any of these signs in your new employees, it might be time to start looking for a replacement employee.
Our on-demand recruiting solutions can ensure that you hire the most qualified candidates for your company. Check out our website today to identify the right candidates for your company.