When you’re a startup, you might not have much experience hiring employees. It’s a natural thing since your company is still in its infancy, and this might be your first time being in charge.
Still, you’ll need to be careful about the people you want to hire and bring on your team. Your goal as an employer is to find the best employees to help your business grow and be successful. The wrong employee can derail your businesses’ growth and cause you some major setbacks.
Take a look at these six reasons you should pass on a prospective employee.
They Lie
Getting caught lying is one of the biggest red flags you should pass on a prospective employee. Lying from the get-go shows an employee can’t be trusted. If you can’t trust your employee, you won’t be able to work with them.
Some common things people might lie about are their last job role, skillset, education level, or references. If by any chance, an employee provides a social security card or a birth certificate, and the information does not match what you find in a background check, that’s a major red flag and very suspicious. That person might be lying about who they say they are, which is a crime.
Criminal History
When hiring an employee, one thing you shouldn’t overlook is conducting a background check, which can reveal a lot about a potential employee. One major thing a background check can show is if a person has a criminal history.
Now, not all crimes are equal, nor should you outright write someone off if they committed a crime. However, if a person has a serious crime, like armed robbery, and is a repeat offender, you should consider passing on that person.
Shows Disrespect
If prospective employees show disrespect before you even hire them, they will most likely be bad employees. Showing disrespect usually means someone won’t follow requests or will be defiant.
Some signs to watch out for are if a prospective employee talks to you in a rude manner shows up late to interviews, doesn’t come prepared, or doesn’t dress appropriately. You’ll also want to watch out for candidates who badmouth others or anyone you might know.
Can’t Commit to Things
In some circumstances, job-hopping and switching career paths aren’t unusual. This type of behavior isn’t odd when you’re young or during economic downtowns. However, the older a job candidate is, and the more unstable their resume looks, they probably have some commitment issues.
If a candidate can’t commit to a job or specific job field, that could be a sign they won’t stick around your company for any longer than a few months. This could be a hassle to deal with as you don’t necessarily have to go through the hiring process so soon.
Inability to Work With Others
A huge part of being a good employee is being able to work with others. If a prospective employee can’t get along with other people, that will be a major issue in your business. This is especially true for startups, where everyone needs to be on the same page and working towards the same goal.
Some signs to look out for are if a prospective employee has a bad attitude, is always negative, or is always trying to take the credit. If they can’t get along with others in a professional setting, they most likely won’t be able to get along with co-workers in your company.
Inability to Take Feedback
Employees who cannot take feedback won’t be able to grow and improve. This is important for any employee, especially those new to your company. Without the ability to take feedback, an employee will stagnate.
Some signs to look out for are if a prospective employee gets defensive when you give them feedback, take things too personally, or don’t seem to learn from their mistakes. Employees who can’t take feedback are doomed to make the same mistakes and might even become a liability in your business.
Hiring the wrong employee can be costly and detrimental to your business. By using the tips provided, you can avoid making the mistake of hiring someone who is not a good fit for your company.
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