Discover the “red flags” that can alert you to future problems from job applicants.
If you want to give yourself an idea of how an applicant will behave once he or she is hired, do yourself a favor and pay some attention to their behavior during the hiring process. Keep in mind that an applicant should be on their very best behavior during the hiring process so anything other than that should be a red flag.
In particular, beware of people who are creating problems for you during the application and hiring process. For example, they are not following your directions when it comes to submitting the appropriate paperwork; they’re difficult when it comes to setting up a first or second interview claiming that their schedule is so busy that they can’t fit you in.
Other red flags can be applicants who deliberately create challenges and obstacles for you during the application and hiring process. Some hiring managers think it’s a good idea to have applicants fill out an employment application to see how thorough they are at filling it out. If you have to reach out to an applicant to get a hold of critical documents or information that should’ve been provided beforehand, chances are that applicant will require a lot of hand-holding and supervision as an employee as well and who has time for that?
Applicants should be jumping through hoops to meet any requirements you’ve established for the position. After all, they’re the one looking for a job right?
In my experience and in my client’s experience things only go downhill when poor behavior is exhibited during the application and hiring process.
People are generally on their best behavior during the hiring process so it should be a red flag when you see anything other than that. An applicant that gives you grief during the application process will probably also give you problems should you choose to hire them. Generally speaking, you can expect their behavior to get worse and deteriorate over time.
For better hires, keep an eye on an applicant’s behavior during your application and hiring process and don’t be afraid to trust your gut if you start to see some red flags.