You’ve screened hundreds of candidates, interviewed dozens and made your final decision. However, now that the employee is on the job, you’re second guessing your choice to hire them. If this sounds familiar, you’re certainly not alone. Every employer has made a hiring mistake at one time or another. The question is – what should you do about it? First, you need to be able to spot a few red flags. They are:

Red flag #1: An inability to learn from mistakes.

Expect new hires to make mistakes. It’s going to happen. However, if your new hire is making the same mistake again and again, there’s a problem. Either they aren’t listening, don’t understand what they’re supposed to be doing, or they simply don’t care.

What to do: When this happens, schedule a casual sit down chat with them. Don’t be harsh or overly critical. Simply state the problem and ask the employee what’s going on. Maybe they’re not clear on their role, or perhaps they need some extra training and support. Whatever the case, it’s important to find out what’s causing the issue so you can properly rectify it.

Red flag #2: There’s an attitude problem.

Your new hire was charming during the hiring process, but now they’re crabby and negative on the job. It could be that you made a hiring mistake, or they simply might be under extreme stress and acting out because of it.

What to do: If this is happening at your company, you need to fix the situation as soon as possible. As leading Houston recruiters, Murray Resources knows that a toxic attitude can quickly spread like a virus to other employees, negatively impacting morale and your company as a whole. Schedule some time with your new hire to find out what’s going on. Be prepared with specific examples of their attitude and explain the impact it’s having on the team. In many cases, the person may not even realize they are being overly negative.

Red flag #3: They’re acting like a lone wolf.

Some positions require people who can act more independently. However, they still need to collaborate and be a part of the team. If your new hire isn’t making any effort to get to know others or join forces on projects, it could be a sign of a poor cultural fit.

What to do: When this happens, make an effort to get the new hire more involved in activities at the company and with their co-workers. They may simply need a little nudge, as well as more time to adjust. Another option is to pair them up with a company veteran who can act as a buddy and make them feel more comfortable and welcome.

Just because a new hire isn’t producing within the first few weeks on the job doesn’t mean you made a bad hiring decision. However, if you spot the red flags above, it’s a sign that the situation could deteriorate – and it’s up to you to act.

Do you need help replacing a bad hire? If you do, call Murray Resources. As leading Houston recruiters, we can take the hassle out of hiring  – all so you can focus on other priorities while still gaining access to top quality talent. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more.