Heading home after work, many of us are focused on the next phase of the day. We know exactly how long it will take to get from one point to the other, minus bad weather conditions or an accident, but all of that can change with the addition of a car driving significantly under the speed limit. Instead of a smooth flow, there’s a bottleneck of slow-moving traffic interrupting the natural flow of things.
Much like slow driving, slow hiring can cause unintended consequences to a business. Akin to a posted speed limit, businesses have a time-to-fill metric. Depending on when the guideline was implemented, it should represent the maximum amount of time allowed to attract and sign a new hire. Anything past that time frame has the potential to impact a company’s productivity, innovation, competitive edge, and revenue.
Pitfalls of Slow Hiring
Other companies recognize a good candidate – There’s often a very good reason why particular employees are in high demand. They have the skills and knowledge that could be a strong asset for a number of companies. Desirable candidates know when they are in demand and as a result have the advantage of being choosier about their decision. The company making the quicker hiring decision is more apt to secure the candidate.
Forced to Wait and See – Few enjoy being in the ambiguous position of waiting for a call, particularly when it comes to something as important as a job. When an employer drags their feet in hiring, there is a potential that a candidate could feel the need to entertain multiple offers. Then when it comes down to making a decision then, candidates are more likely to choose the company who made a swift offer as opposed to waiting on the potential of an offer.
The Long-term Effects of Social Media – In the age of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Glassdoor, a company’s actions are up for scrutiny more than ever before. Participants on Glassdoor regularly post their experiences with a company’s hiring process along with the number of days it took to complete the hiring process. Earning the reputation of being slow to hire can send a message that the company is not serious about attracting or retaining qualified candidates. In the social age, that message can spread fast.
Quickly Diminishing Returns – No business hires for the sake of hiring. In order to justify the expense of hiring, there must be a credible need for additional employees. When the hiring process goes on and on, that often means that work in-house is not happening at the necessary rate. As a result, possible impacts could include decreased employee morale, work taking longer than expected to complete, and customers who begin to question the company’s commitment to quality work.
As you’ve often heard, a good employee can be hard to find. That’s why it’s important to respect their time and yours with a timely hiring plan. Your reputation may ultimately depend on it.
As a top Kansas City recruiting firm since 1988, Austin Nichols Technical Search has served clients in a variety of fields. Austin Nichols specializes in direct hire and contract recruiting for manufacturing, construction, engineering, and technical positions.
