Should you be Hiring the Way You Grocery Shop?

Hiring the right employees can either elevate your organization or hold it back. Not to mention prevent costly turnover.

Getting this right isn’t about luck—it’s about intentionality. Hiring the best talent has a lot in common with grocery shopping. Without a clear plan, you’ll end up with a cart full of items you don’t need and missing the key ingredients for success.

Why Hiring is Like Grocery Shopping

Imagine it’s spaghetti night. You’re excited to make a delicious meal, but when you check your pantry, the pasta is missing. Fine, I suppose. You’ve at least got a salad. But that’s not ideal, right?

This is the same frustration hiring managers feel when a rushed decision leads to a misaligned hire—someone who checks a few boxes but lacks the essential “ingredients” needed to thrive.

So how do we fix this? By applying the same thoughtful preparation to hiring that we use for a successful grocery trip.

Without a clear list, grocery shopping can turn chaotic. You spend too much, grab items you don’t need, and still somehow forget the key ingredients for dinner.

The same happens in hiring when we rush or lack focus. But just like a meal plan simplifies your trip to the store, a thoughtful, aligned hiring process ensures you get exactly what you need for your team’s success.

Five “Shopping” Tips to Hire Smarter

1. Create Your “Meal Plan” – The Performance Dashboard

Your “meal plan” is a Performance Dashboard: 3 to 5 clear, specific outcomes the person must achieve in the role. This is your north star for what success looks like and keeps everyone focused on the priorities that matter most.

2. Develop a “Shopping List” – Key Skills and Strengths

The “shopping list” is a targeted list of personal and professional skills a candidate must bring to achieve the outcomes on your Performance Dashboard. Think beyond technical expertise to include qualities like communication, problem-solving, or teamwork—traits that ensure success in the real world.

3. Share the Plan with Your Team

A successful hiring process requires alignment. Share your Performance Dashboard and shopping list with your interview team. Use a system like the R.E.A.D.Y. Interview Team Meeting to ensure everyone understands the role’s priorities and stays focused on the right traits during the interview process.

4. Train Your Team on How to “Shop” (Interview)

An untrained interviewer is like a distracted shopper—grabbing what looks good instead of what’s needed. Teach your team how to conduct structured, focused interviews that assess candidates against the shopping list, not personal preferences or gut instincts.

5. “Check the Cart” Before Making the Hire

Before saying yes to a candidate, double-check your “cart.” Follow up on vague answers, verify references, and consider using validated talent assessments to confirm your choice. Skipping this step often leads to regret, while a little extra diligence ensures you’ve found the right fit.

Don’t Settle for “Just Salad” Hires

Just like a grocery list guarantees a great meal, a clear hiring process ensures you build a strong, high-performing team.

The next time you’re hiring, take the time to align on what success looks like in the role with your Performance Dashboard and know exactly what the candidate needs to succeed. When you do, you’ll never have to “make do” again.

Resources for Hiring Managers

Hiring can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how we can support you:

• Free eBook: Best Hiring Practices and Leadership Interview Questions: 70 How to Hire Right Tips
• Workshops and Talks: Bring “Risk, Reward, and Research: The Top Three Mistakes Hiring Managers Make” to your team for practical tools to elevate your hiring process.
• Superior Assessment Process: We guide you through the process of hiring superior performers with EEOC and OFCCP-validated tools.

Let’s help you find and hire the best—every time.