6 COSTLY MISTAKES MOST PEOPLE MAKE WHEN RECRUITING

Jeff Mignault • June 22, 2017

Recruiting is your opportunity to find the best talent available and improve your company. However, if you don’t take it seriously or have a poor recruiting process, you could find yourself recruiting again in the short term because of a bad hire.

6 COSTLY MISTAKES MOST PEOPLE MAKE WHEN RECRUITING

1. NOT KNOWING WHO YOU ARE LOOKING FOR:

Successful recruiters know what they are looking for. Therefore, it’s essential that you have an ideal candidate profile. You can use this as the basis to qualify candidates and use it as a checklist to compare candidates.

2. MAKING ASSUMPTIONS:

Never make assumptions about candidates or how they will act/react during the hiring process. Don’t assume you have found the perfect candidate; or once interviews are complete, don’t assume a candidate is going to accept your job offer. Nothing is certain until a candidate signs the employment contract.

3. WRITING POOR JOB ADS:

If you write poor job ads, then you will likely attract a poor pool of candidates. Too many companies simply recycle old job ads and don’t invest the time or effort into writing detailed and enticing job ads. If you want to attract good talent, you need to write great ads.

4. NOT OPERATING WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY:

People don’t like to wait, and candidates won’t wait around forever to hear back from you. In fact, if you don’t act right away when you identify a top talent, you risk losing them to a competitor. If you’ve identified a candidate as a great talent, so have other companies. If you wait too long, candidates will move on and you’ll miss out.

5. NOT INVESTING IN THE PROCESS:

Recruiting is one of the most important processes for your organization. Failure to invest in the process will put your company at a disadvantage when it comes time to hire. Talent is a core resource, and if you can’t attract top talent, your company will suffer.

6. NOT DOING A BACKGROUND CHECK:

Always check references and look into a candidate more thoroughly post-interview. Hiring is an important decision. You are investing in a person, and you need to perform your due diligence to make sure you are making the correct decision.

MORE RECRUITING TIPS

Check out these insightful recruitment tips to improve your hiring success:

Jeff Mignault
Employee carrying a briefcase while walking to work.
October 21, 2026
Learn how Canadian employers can develop compliant return-to-office policies for remote and hybrid teams.
7 workforce alternatives employers can consider before layoffs
October 21, 2026
Facing tariff pressure or weaker demand? Explore seven workforce options Canadian employers can consider before layoffs, from redeployment to work-sharing.
Three blocks representing tariffs and trade barriers affecting Canadian employers
October 14, 2026
Learn 5 ways Canadian employers can prepare for workforce disruption caused by tariffs, including workforce planning, skills development and retention.
Vacation planning calendar with beach chair.
October 7, 2026
Learn how vacation pay is calculated in Canada and what employers need to know about provincial requirements.
Manager addressing a challenging employee situation.
September 30, 2026
Learn how new managers can address difficult employee behaviour, manage performance and handle challenging conversations.
Employees disengaged during corporate training.
September 16, 2026
Learn eight signs your corporate training program isn't working and how to improve its impact.
Pay equity and equal pay comparison represented by male and female figures.
September 2, 2026
Learn the difference between pay equity and equal pay and Ontario's requirements for employers.
Employee receiving career transition support after a layoff.
August 26, 2026
Are outplacement services worth the cost? Explore the benefits for Canadian employers and employees.
Illustration of a robot carrying office equipment while an employee leaves with a box
August 12, 2026
Discover why AI can't replace human HR expertise. Learn where AI adds value and when experienced HR professionals are essential.
Man making woman uncomfortable in an office representing workplace harassment.
August 5, 2026
Learn Ontario's workplace violence and harassment training requirements to stay compliant and create a safer workplace.