Top 10 mistakes made by recruiters

By LBV

05 Dec 2012

1. Poor job description
Being clear on what the job requires for superior performance. Job competencies are key for the hiring manager to write the job advert and conduct the interviews. It all starts with the job description!

2. Terrible interviewing
The candidate should do most of the talking! Ensure your managers have been trained to interview, there is structure to the interview and a scoring system in place.

3. Not simulating real job activities
Offer half day working interview. This will give the candidate an opportunity to see if you are the right company for them too.

4. Not pre screening over the telephone
Opportunity to make a decision on whether to progress to first interview. CVs come in all shapes and sizes and there is no rule on how a cv should look.

5. Hiring for skills and not attitude
Remember the movie “The Pursuit of Happiness”? Whilst we recruit on skills, experience and qualifications, attitude is the forgotten ingredient for the perfect candidate mix.

6. Hiring too slow
Looking for the perfect one can mean you lose the ideal candidate. Beware of missing good quality candidates because your desirables have been placed on your essential list.

7. Hiring too fast
Don’t panic buy! Hiring out of desperation to fill a seat isn’t always the best person for the job. Take your time to evaluate what you really need and wait for the right candidate. If they are the wrong fit for the team or ability this can cost more than money in the long run.

8. Inappropriate use of assessments
They are a tool for interviewing not the decision making. There are lots of assessments on the market. It is important that the assessment is used as a tool to challenge the candidate during interview. The person carrying out the interview must understand how it works.

9. Not taking up references
Check the candidate has worked where they say they have. You can do this in the form of reference or if the company have a no reference policy P60’s and payslips.

10. No induction!
Time, money and resources spent on recruiting, why wouldn’t you want to keep them? If there is no formal or poor induction process the candidate is likely to take longer to settle in, pick up bad habits and potentially leave as they don’t really understand the company and what is expected of them.

Laura Hartley
Director
Laura Hartley Recruitment

Enjoyed this? Read more from LBV

Latest news

1

Kerakoll UK and Barnfield Construction sign contract to build new Preston plant Barnfield team on new Kerakoll site

Kerakoll UK and Barnfield Construction sign contract to build new Preston plant

27 Jun 2025

2

Scout Moor II meteorological mast gets the green light Cubico

Scout Moor II meteorological mast gets the green light

26 Jun 2025

3

Breck acquires 21-acre Ravenhead Brickworks site for 300 new homes Ravenhead

Breck acquires 21-acre Ravenhead Brickworks site for 300 new homes

26 Jun 2025

4

Conlon marks Employee Ownership Day with family fun celebration, ushering in a new era after 60 years in business Conlon celebrating its first EOT Day with family at Ribby Hall Village

Conlon marks Employee Ownership Day with family fun celebration, ushering in a new era after 60 years in business

26 Jun 2025

5

Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub announces Skills Bootcamps partnership with Northcoders Northcoders skills support

Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub announces Skills Bootcamps partnership with Northcoders

26 Jun 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin