OPINION
and prodding, but when is it all too much? Such brazen examination may cause a candidate to run for the hills. There’s a time for everything but extravagant snooping is just plain scary.
4. Trying to find someone too perfect
Trust me, “perfect” is not out there. Everyone has weaknesses, annoying habits and made blunders along the way. We have evolved as a species but are still full of faults. Some humanresources folk ask themselves three simple questions: Can they do the job? Will they complement the team and our goals? Will they stay? Deciding can be over-fussy, like the movie 50 First Dates or one could settle for reasonable imperfection like Julia Roberts did when she met Hugh Grant in Notting Hill. Lucky Hugh!
5. Setting unreasonable deadlines
Too much pressure on a candidate to accept the offer can evolve into the kiss of death — most un-romantic. Reasonable time should be given to weigh things up. Change is hard, and a strong candidate needs to consider many options to make a choice. To quote Billy Crystal’s declaration of love from the romcom When Harry met Sally, “When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” Being over eager does not an Oscar win.
6. Offering a salary package way below expectation At last the ideal candidate — the letter of offer is prepared and presented with a flourish and, like a bouquet of petrolstation flowers, falls way short of expectations. After all that
A FORWARD-THINKING COMPANY NEEDS TO MAKE THEMSELVES ATTRACTIVE TO POTENTIAL HIRES.
interviewing and checking just to fall over the final hurdle of compatibility. I know it’s not all about the money, but if a person is used to a specific lifestyle it is unlikely they will accept less. John Cusack put it well in the 1989 movie Say Anything. “I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen.” Variety magazine critics called it “halfbaked love story” Companies who par-cook their salary offers may also find themselves being panned by the reviewers.
7. Phoning a current employer
A sure way to blow it. Phone the candidates present employer to get a reference? Yes, this does happen. Seriously, if your wayward golfing buddy phoned the husband of his latest flirtation for a recommendation would he get the truth? Or would the cowering Casanova of the fairways end up pursued by an angry hubby with a five iron? As in, the Rotten Tomato awardwinning and 2013 box-office failure, Temptation, I would imagine a great reference would emanate from the current employer if they wanted a shortlisted prospect to leave
8. Not trying to impress
It is a talent-short market. A forward-thinking company needs to make themselves attractive to potential hires. Many corporations want to be an organisation of choice, but fall short of putting the right benefits and working conditions into practice. Reputation is everything,
it is not all about salary. Good promotional prospects, great working environment, extra benefits, and management style to name a few. Dedicated workers are the best people to recommend a company. If they love working for The Firm they will encourage others to do the same. A bad reputation is hard to change. A business doesn’t get dozens of chances. In Ground Hog Day, one of my favourite movies, Bill Murray needs to use the information around him to make the necessary character adjustments to impress Andie MacDowell. He eventually succeeds, but not without continued failure.
9. Inflexible on interview times
The good candidates are probably working, and setting up a convenient time for an interview can be quite testing. Top companies are flexible, don’t play hard to get, and are willing to see the top talent out of working hours or at weekends.
10. Bad employment advertising
Is the advert attracting applications? Is it dull and boring? Or is it in the wrong publication? If one wants to appeal to the right profile of candidate, better do some research and find the right platform. Target the appropriate online resources and publications that your goal market reads. And by the way, I am not referring to Tinder !
Good luck with your search!
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