Recruiting in the 21st century...

If you’re involved in recruitment, then you’ll have a pretty good idea as to how much it costs to recruit the wrong person for the job. Several years ago a client of mine calculated that the overall cost of recruiting a middle manager can escalate to over R1 million. I remember asking him how this figure was calculated to which he replied the following: the recruitment agency fee; managers time in conducting interviews; the induction process; managers time in providing training; the salary paid to the individual; disruption to co-workers and clients and the biggest potential cost - lost clients! Not to mention potential litigation should the case go to the CCMA. It still surprises me that so many companies choose to take this unnecessary risk. In today’s day and age with modern technology being literally at our fingertips, there are several valid and reliable online psychometric assessment products that can alleviate the risk by matching candidates to job criteria. The cost of administering a psychometric assessment is minuscule in relation to the costs incurred if you don’t. Regardless of how experienced the interviewer is, there is always a level of subjectivity to a hiring decision being made. Removing the human element completely is by no means the answer and most certainly an interview, reviewing one’s CV and taking reference checks is imperative. However one third of your decision-making process should be objective and using a scientific measure to evaluate subsurface elements i.e. thinking style, behavioural traits and interests is essential to your final decision-making process. With over 25 years of experience within the HR field, I for one would find it very difficult to recruit or promote anyone without the use of a registered, valid and reliable assessment tool.