How to Avoid Hiring a Job Hopper

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that the typical US worker stays in a position for just 4.2 years before moving on to a new company. Another study by Future Workplace found that ninety-one percent of Millennials (individuals born between 1977-1997) expect to stay in a job for less than three years. That’s 15-20 jobs over the course of their working lives! With the numbers stacked up against you, how do you avoid hiring candidates who may bail a few months or years down the road? Of course, there’s no magic answer, but here are three tricks that may help you filter out potential job hoppers and snag a dedicated, long-term employee.

1. Focus on longevity and ask the candidate about future goals – During the interview, be sure the candidate understands how important a long-term commitment is to your company. Then, include questions that will help gauge whether or not the candidate would be truly happy in that role, such as “where do you see yourself in 10 years?” or “if you could do anything you wanted for a living, would you still work in this industry?” By asking for details about that person’s future goals, you’ll learn what he/she hopes to accomplish down the line and get a better grasp on whether or not their goals match up with the role they’ve applied for.
2. Request and verify references and letters of recommendation – Oftentimes, candidates who aren’t serious about a position choose to use a friend or family member as a fake reference. Make sure to ask for at least three employment references and then verify that they are the real deal. When requesting recommendations, consider asking for letters that focus on a specific subject, like “why would this industry and position be a good match for the candidate?” If the statements in the letters don’t match up with what you learned from the individual during the interview, you may want to rethink their candidacy.
3. Hire through a staffing company – One of the easiest ways to avoid hiring a job hopper is to use the services of a reliable staffing company, like ALTRES Staffing. A quality staffing company screens all your candidates for you and has experience determining whether or not he/she is in it for the long haul. Plus, if the candidate does flake out and quit, you’ll have access to a replacement with no time investment on your part.

Losing an employee after only a year or two is costly to a company; it means wasting precious time and resources and having to go through the hiring process much more frequently. By making longevity a key requirement of a position, you’ll save your business time, money, and a lot of hassle down the road. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of using ALTRES Staffing to help you find your next committed, long-term employee.