“Why are you hiring for this role NOW?”

When a company needs to fill a role, it's easy to assume that they have an urgent need and are actively seeking to fill the position. I had no reason to question a company’s motivation for hiring. You have a #vacancy, I go on to fill it and that’s all. However, recent events such as the tech #layoffs have made me question whether this assumption is always true.

Sometime ago, a #recruiter with whom I was in a couple of WhatsApp groups needed to fill a role. She shared the vacancy across these groups pleading for urgent #referrals. I thought, “Oh, they must be very serious and looking to fill this role in a few days.” I went on to share a pretty strong referral but weeks passed, and my referral wasn't contacted. When I asked what had happened, she revealed that management had decided to hold off on the role. What?! What changed? That sounded really urgent. Did #management rush into the decision of hiring for this role only to dash the hopes of potential #candidates? How many candidates will understand that this recruiter is not at fault, but probably the management?

This experience got me thinking about the timing of #hiring. If a company is going through massive layoffs, why do they have twice as many vacancies on their careers page? Or, why do they even have vacancies at all? Could they have reallocated staff into these open roles? Do they really need to hire for these positions, or are they just trying to meet some quota or attract funding opportunities? Would staff have agreed to join other departments to work on completely new tasks? Surely, no one wishes to be #laidoff.

It's important for businesses to consider these questions before hiring for a role. When considering hiring new staff, businesses should ask themselves, "What will this person do? Is the #workload enough to justify the pay or years of experience you are looking for? Will our business do just fine if we don’t hire for this role now or never?" They should also consider whether the hire will have enough work to do all year round or if peak periods will have a huge impact on the amount of work they will be doing.

If the current staff is experiencing #burnout, it's a good indication that it's time to #hire new staff. It's good for #employees to work hard, but when they're overwhelmed and the workload is too much for one person to handle, new staff may be necessary. If customers are complaining about the quality of products or services, or the time it takes to get their orders, it's probably time to expand the workforce to deal with these issues.

In summary, businesses should be cautious about hiring for a role until there is a CLEAR NEED for that role. While it's okay to build a pipeline for a role that will be open in the future, businesses shouldn't fill the role until there is an absolute need. Hiring too soon can result in declining profits and cash flow, while waiting too long can result in unfinished work piling up. Striking a balance is essential.

When businesses consider hiring new staff, they should determine whether there is enough work to demand additional help, and whether their financial situation is stable enough to manage the additional cost of a new employee. By asking the right questions and timing their hiring appropriately, businesses can ensure they are making the best use of their resources and providing the best possible experience for their employees and customers.