Even Recruiters Can Make Mistakes: The Cost of Rushed Hiring

As someone who lives and breathes recruitment, you might assume I’d be immune to hiring mistakes. But, like all of us, I’m human and recently, I was reminded of just how important it is to practice what I passionately preach.

I made a rushed hiring decision for my own business. It seemed like a quick fix, but it quickly unraveled, costing me time, energy, and peace of mind. Today I'll be sharing what happened and the lesson I learned, so that you can avoid this experience at all costs!

How It All Began

A few weeks ago, I found myself unexpectedly needing help in my business. The team members supporting me during maternity leave were no longer available, and with active clients, deadlines, and responsibilities piling up as I stepped back in to working life from maternity leave, I felt the pressure.

I needed help yesterday. So, I jumped into resolution mode, made a quick list of what I thought I needed, and started the hiring process.

When I found someone who looked great on paper, interviewed well, and could start immediately, I thought I’d found the perfect solution. I made the hire and breathed a sigh of relief.

Until week two.

When Things Went Wrong

Tasks weren’t getting done. Communication was patchy. My new hire disappeared during work hours, and excuses started rolling in.

My gut told me something was off, and soon I discovered the truth: they had another job and were trying to juggle both. Not surprisingly, this approach didn’t work nor was it aligned with my personal or company values.

Instead of solving my problem, I was left cleaning up the mess: fixing incomplete work, catching up on delays, and worst of all, starting the hiring process again from scratch.

The Real Problem? I Skipped the Plan

The mistake wasn’t the hire itself; it was how I went about it.

I rushed. I didn’t take the time to map out what I really needed, assess the role properly, or look deeper into the red flags that, in hindsight, were there from the start.

As someone who constantly advises clients to take the time to plan their recruitment strategy, this was a hard pill to swallow.

The Damage

This one hiring mistake had a ripple effect on my business:

• Time lost: I spent more time fixing mistakes and redoing work than I would have spent planning the hire properly in the first place.
• Deadlines delayed: I had to explain to clients why we were 1-2 days behind schedule (a situation I strive to avoid at all costs).
• Energy drained: Managing the fallout while keeping everything else on track was exhausting.

But the hardest part was knowing I could have avoided all of it with the right preparation. In fact, the exact preparation I use regularly with my own clients would have saved me from all this!

Why Planning is Everything

Here’s what I want you to take away from my experience: Recruitment isn’t just about filling a vacancy - it’s about making the right hire. And that doesn’t happen by accident; it happens through intentional planning.

Whilst you might feel like you are drowning in work and need to hire ASAP, taking the extra time to breathe and plan will save you more $$$ and time in the long-run.

When you plan your recruitment, you:

• Avoid rushed decisions driven by panic or immediate pressure.
• Save time and money by hiring the right person the first time.
• Protect your employer brand by ensuring your process reflects your company values.
• Set your hire up for success with clear expectations and alignment from the start.

A strong recruitment strategy and process isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It’s the foundation for hiring talent that will drive your business forward.

The Lesson

None of us are perfect. Even after 17+ years in recruitment, I made a mistake. But mistakes are where growth happens.

The experience has only strengthened my belief in the importance of recruitment planning. And now, I can speak from firsthand experience about the true cost of hiring in a rush and how much smoother and successful the process is when you get it right.

Let’s Plan Your Recruitment Strategy Together

If you’re feeling the pressure to hire or if you know you’ll need to bring someone on board soon - let’s talk.

I’m offering free recruitment strategy planning sessions in December to help you avoid the mistakes I’ve made and set your hiring process up for success.

Together, we’ll create a plan that ensures you hire the right people, at the right time, for the right reasons.

Send a message to book your session. Let’s take the guesswork out of recruitment and give you peace of mind.