High turnover can drain a company’s time, resources, and morale. If your business is constantly dealing with employee churn, you’re not alone—but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating or expensive. One of the most overlooked causes of turnover isn’t just hiring the wrong person—it’s hiring the wrong person because you weren’t clear enough about who the right person is!
When you get clear on your “ideal” hire, you’ll not only improve your hiring process but also see long-term gains in employee retention, engagement, and business growth.
Avoid Hiring Based on the Wrong Criteria
Too often, businesses focus on the wrong things when hiring—like impressive resumes, technical skills, or a candidate’s ability to pass an interview. But while these factors are important, they aren’t enough to ensure long-term success.
Your “ideal” hire isn’t just about finding someone who can do the job today—it’s about finding someone who can grow with your company, mesh with your team, and align with your company culture. When you clarify what your business really needs in terms of personality, work ethic, and values, you’re more likely to bring in people who stay for the long haul.
Solution: Start by making a list of non-negotiables for your ideal candidate. What personality traits, values, and behaviours will set someone up for success in your company? Getting crystal clear on these traits will help you filter out candidates who might be a mismatch in the long term.
Here are some questions to help you define your ideal hire:
What would the ideal person at the desk be doing? What key behaviours and actions would I observe from them?
What are the non-negotiable criteria—the 'must-have' behaviours or traits—that this person needs to be successful in the role?
Think of the people who make your job easier and more enjoyable—the ideal team members. What attitudes do they have that make them such a pleasure to work with?
Once you're clear on your ideal hire, share it with everyone—hiring managers, your current team, and your recruitment agency. Your team can help refer candidates, while your recruiter, who connects with far more prospects everyday, can focus on finding the perfect match faster if they know this information now. Keeping everyone aligned on your ideal candidate will speed up the hiring process and lead to more successful hires for your business.