If you're using an applicant tracking system to choose job candidates, you're likely to end up with more than a few lemons. As a hiring manager and business professional, you have to carefully vet prospective hires, because a bad choice can negatively impact your company. Pay particular attention to these 10 red flags as you go through the hiring process.
1. Unexplained Employment Gaps
It's okay to have employment gaps, but job candidates should have valid reasons for each unemployment phase. Being a full-time parent, caring for a relative or working as a freelancer are all legitimate reasons for taking time off of traditional work. If a candidate was laid off or fired, find out if the candidate went back to school, performed volunteer work or learned any new skills while unemployed.
2. Dishonest Candidates
During interviews, job candidates should be able to clearly answer questions about a previous position without fumbling over their words. Job candidates who can't provide clear, honest answers to basic interview questions often provide nonsensical answers, and that's not a good sign.
3. Asking Useless Questions
Prospective hires generally have a chance to ask questions during job interviews. Do the questions have unique angles or touch on topics that were not covered? Job candidates who don't pay attention during the interview might ask a question that someone has already answered, which is another bad sign.
4. Serial Applicants
Some applicants might submit their resume to multiple job listings within your company with the hopes of landing an interview. Serial candidates are generally unfocused and typically don't make the best employees.
5. Suspicious Work History
A suspicious work history may manifest itself in several ways. Perhaps you know a candidate lied about working for a particular company during a specific time period or listed a school that does not exist. Any lies on a prospective hire's resume should raise a concern.
6. Going Off-Topic
Similar to asking useless questions, people who go way off-topic during job interviews demonstrate a lack of focus. Avoid these candidates, and find people who demonstrate their ability to dedicate themselves to the job.
7. Badmouthing Others
No one wants to deal with sour grapes. People who badmouth previous employers demonstrate their lack of maturity and inability to move on from past circumstances. Individuals with such traits might cause trouble at your pace of employment.
8. Self Absorbed
Watch out for candidates who take all of the credit for successes and blame others for failures. Good employees understand the concept of teamwork and won't hesitate to give others credit for their contributions.
9. No References
Beware of someone who can't provide references. All job candidates should have at least one person who can say something positive about their work ethic, skills or abilities.
10. Focused On Money and Benefits
A candidate who seems more interested in the job's salary and benefits package than the job itself might not be a good choice. Choose candidates who are genuinely interested in working for your company.
These 10 red flags are just some of the warning signs that certain job candidates may not be the right fit. Keep these in mind as you consider various people as new hires.
Photo courtesy of stockimage at Freedigitalphotos.net
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