Believe it or not, bad hires can be prevented! Some warning signs appear during the interview if you know what to look for. Paying close attention to the person you’re interviewing can avoid the costly mistake of bringing someone on board which ends up hurting morale, wasting time and resources for onboarding only to be shown the door (or walking out), and can help you identify a suitable candidate from a bad one.
Here are some red flags to look for.
1. Body language.
This can be problematic if your job candidate doesn’t look you in the eye when answering your questions. Understandably, some people aren’t comfortable holding someone’s gaze, and two years of remote meetings and video calls can make some people out of practice with in-person conversations. But there’s a difference between shyness and avoidance: If your candidate refuses to make eye contact more than once or twice and instead looks at the wall, your desk, or anything other than you, they might not be sharing honest and truthful information with you.
2. Not dressing for the occasion.
Even if the job opening is an entry-level position that would not require professional attire every day (or ever), people should put their best foot forward for an interview to make a good impression. Someone who shows up in pajamas, or sweats, without their hair, combed, or generally looking messy, might not be taking the opportunity seriously.
3. A resume that doesn’t quite add up.
Some people will go through odd stretches in their lives where their employment isn’t steady or consistent. But if there are multiple gaps on a resume, of several months at a time, it’s worth asking about. Notice how the candidate responds: Are they open about those experiences, or do they try and shrug them off as no big deal? You want someone who will own up to their history and explain what happened sufficiently and believably, not someone who shuts down and refuses to talk.
4. Hostility toward a previous or current employer.
Not everyone gets along all the time. Sometimes people start looking for a job because of personality conflicts or disagreements. It happens! But suppose the candidate is repeatedly opposing or borderline hostile toward their current or previous manager. In that case, it could be a sign that the problem isn’t their higher-ups but instead in the candidate themselves. That kind of bad attitude can bring down an entire group and is a problem you don’t need under your roof.
5. A lack of interest in your company.
If the candidate comes in and can’t explain why they’re interested in working for your company and the specific job for which they’re interviewing, that’s a red flag. Are they aware of what the job entails? Do they have any questions about the company or position? Do they appear curious or excited at all? Worse yet, if they come in with criticisms and complaints about your company, it’s time to shake hands and show them the door.
There are, of course, extenuating circumstances that might sometimes make these red flags seem worse than they are — a gap in employment could be the result of taking time off work to care for a family member; someone might show up disheveled for an interview because their childcare didn’t arrive on time (or at all) or the person could be trying to work their way out of a bad situation. But if you get the sense that someone would be a bad addition to your team, and you notice any of these red flags, it’s time to move on to someone else.
Hire Top Talent Today
If you’re having trouble finding quality candidates, call Davis Staffing! We have great people with the skills you’re looking for, and they’re ready to start working right away. We also have people looking for temporary work if you need help for the short term. Call Davis Staffing today, and let’s get to business!
