Recruiting executive talent can be challenging, as these positions are high-impact roles that can influence your organization’s profitability and image. You’ll want to fully understand your candidate’s work style, personality, and eligibility, which can be difficult through a few phone calls, emails, and interviews. But knowing the red flags to watch out for can streamline the process and save you the costs of a bad hire.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average cost of a bad hiring decision is at least 30 percent of the individual’s first-year expected earnings. You can avoid this costly mistake by spotting these top five red flags when recruiting executive talent.
Mediocre References
It can be concerning if your candidates’ references are less than glowing. The quality of a reference can help you determine the candidate’s skills and work ethic. A third-party opinion can reduce the risk of a bad hire and help you make informed hiring decisions.
Most people provide references who are likely to say good things about them, so if those references are mediocre, you may want to investigate further. Consider reaching out to the candidate’s previous employer to learn more about the firm’s experience with them or contact other individuals in your network to find out more information, if available.
Frequent Job Changes
There’s nothing wrong with some movement in the job market, as it allows individuals to gain experience. However, excessive job changes can be concerning as they could indicate ineffective performance or lack of dedication to work. Some job-hoppers may stick around long enough to gain experience and leave at their convenience, which can be costly for your company.
The key to hiring a dedicated candidate is attracting top talent to your firm. This can be challenging without the proper knowledge and access to a qualified pool of candidates. Working with a recruitment agency like IQ PARTNERS can simplify this process and allow you to screen candidates more effectively. They will ensure that they’re helping you hire suitable candidates and reduce the risk of staff turnover.
Lack of Responsiveness to Interview Questions
Look for executive candidates who provide concrete examples of their past work and experience. If the candidate is evasive and unable to answer questions directly, they may be masking something. A qualified executive candidate should be able to demonstrate their skills and knowledge to convince the employer that they are the right pick.
A professional with extensive experience is likely to have a proven record of success that they are willing to share. They may also explain how they can achieve similar results to benefit your company if hired.
Average Communication Skills
Executive-level talent needs to have the ability to impress their audience. They should speak clearly and concisely with confidence. Average communication skills could indicate that the candidate may not be capable of guiding your team effectively. During your interview, carefully observe how the candidate speaks and whether or not they’re able to lead the interview, as this could significantly influence your decision.
No Executive Experience
Hiring a candidate for an executive role isn’t the same as hiring an employee for a general or entry-level role. The candidate needs to have the sufficient executive experience to understand how the market works. Extensive experience in the industry allows one to gather the knowledge and skills to navigate the market and apply real-time solutions to help the company grow.
Hiring the right executive talent is key to a company’s growth and success. Take time to familiarize yourself with the red flags above, and watch out for them during your next interview!
