The hiring process is incredibly frustrating. In this article, we will be discussing the four most common mistakes and how you can avoid them.
Mistake #1: Forgetting that timing is crucial
Most companies will wait until they have a specific need before they start looking to hire. However, construction projects often have hard start dates, which increases the urgency. If you wait until the last minute to staff your project, you are more likely to accept subpar employees just because of the time crunch. Instead, it is better to always be on the lookout for quality employees. At the very least, you can be actively networking, so that potential star employees are not surprised to hear from you when you have an open position.
Mistake #2: Casting too shallow a net
To find the best talent, it is important that you do absolutely everything you can to reach a wide range of people. This means that you should be posting your open positions on more than just one job site; you should also be making use of your social media accounts. Beyond that, many construction companies make the mistake of not working with a recruiter, which can expand your prospects exponentially. And remember that your connection to your next great employee could be right under your nose – ask your top employees for referrals and consider offering a bonus for any that lead to a hire.
Mistake #3: Not doing your due diligence
If you have been looking to fill a position for a while, you might be so excited when you find a suitable-looking candidate that you jump to make the offer. But be careful not to move too fast! Remember that it is pretty common for applicants to fib on their resumes. You should always make sure to check references and conduct background checks. Where possible, you should hold a trial assignment to ensure that the candidate has the skills and experience that you are looking for.
Mistake #4: Offering the wrong benefits
Salary will always be important, of course, but beyond that, some people may be more attracted to flexible work hours or benefits like staff lunches or employee happy hours. Others may be particularly interested in the healthcare package or retirement plans. While you will never be able to make everyone happy all of the time, do your best to try to figure out what matters most to your employees – as well as your potential employees – this will not only help improve your successful hire rates but will also increase retention rates and tenures.
With these tips in mind, you should not only be able to cut down on your hiring time, but you will have more qualified employees who stay with your company for longer.
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash
