The top factor in a failed hire, aside from performance issues, is a poor skills match, according to 36 percent of chief financial officers interviewed for a Robert Half Finance & Accounting survey.
The specialized financial recruitment service developed the survey, which was conducted by an independent research firm and based on interviews with more than 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 20 or more employees.
CFOs were asked: “Aside from poor performance, which one of the following factors is most likely to lead to a failed hire?”
The results were:
• Mismatched skill set - 36%
• Unclear performance expectations - 30%
• Personality conflicts - 17%
• Failure to fit into corporate culture - 14%
• Don't know - 3%
"Companies can't afford hiring mistakes, which are costly and can erode staff morale," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International, in a statement. "Finding the right match requires time and attention, and it's something even busy managers need to make time for."
Robert Half Finance & Accounting offered five tips for better hires:
• Know what you want
• Look for intangibles
• Make a personal connection
• Tap all your resources
• Woo your top choices
"Working with a recruiter who specializes in a given field can help hiring managers identify job candidates with the appropriate skills,” said Messmer. “Most recruiting firms conduct skills testing, which provides added assurance a prospective employee's skills are a match."
