How to Spot a Bad Candidate

As one of the leading staffing services firms in Houston, TX, Murray Resources knows it’s every employers worst nightmare to hire a candidate who performed well during an interview, only to find out they’re not a good fit for the job. Whether they don’t have the right skills, personality or attitude is irrelevant; it’s still going to cost you. The good news is that there are some red flags to look be on the out for – before you make a hiring decision – that can help you avoid a bad hire. What are they? Here’s a look:

They offer unclear answers.

When you ask for specifics, and the candidate can’t give them, that’s a clear sign that they may have overstated their abilities on their resume. Someone who actually did the work you’re asking about will be able to discuss it in detail.

The candidate has no failures.

When you ask the candidate to tell you about a time they failed on the job or made a big mistake, and they can’t give you one example, it leaves you wondering what they’re hiding. Everyone has made mistakes on the job in the past, so either they’re afraid to answer this question for some reason or they have absolutely no self-awareness.

They act unprofessionally.

Whether it’s showing up late without a reasonable explanation, being rude to the receptionist, or answering a call in the middle of an interview, unprofessional behavior is one clear sign you need to scratch a candidate off your list. You have to ask yourself: If someone can’t act professionally for even an hour during an interview, what’s it going to be like once they’re on the job five days a week, year-round?

They focus on the benefits.

You’re asking the candidates about their education and experience. But when it’s their turn to ask questions, all they want to learn about are the advantages and perks of working at your company. Every candidate wants to know this information; but there’s a right time and a wrong time to bring it up. During the first interview, a candidate should be more focused on whether they are a fit for the job and the company than how many vacation days they’d get.

Do you need more help hiring the best candidates? Give Murray Resources a call. As one of the leading staffing services firms in Houston, TX, we can assist you with the entire search process – from sourcing and screening to hiring and retaining top talent. Contact us today to get started.