Top 5 Recruiting Mistakes Hawaii Employers Make

Let’s face it—no one hires an individual hoping they won’t work out. Recruiting new employees takes time and money, so it pays to avoid recruiting mistakes and hire the right person the first time around.

With nearly 50 years of experience, the recruiters here at ALTRES Staffing have helped Hawaii businesses of all sizes avoid dealing with costly recruitment mistakes. They’ve found that many local employers are hurting their chances of securing top talent before they’ve even brought them through their door.

Here are some of the most common and costly recruiting mistakes local employers are making.

Mistake #1: Low balling candidates

The Hawaii job market has changed. Our low unemployment rate coupled with a rising minimum wage means that recruiting great employees starts with offering a competitive wage. “A candidate may accept a position at $12 per hour, but will leave if someone else offers them $13,” says Lynn Hiyane, Clerical and Technical Recruiter at ALTRES. “Offering a competitive wage from the beginning can prevent turnover, saving you more money in the long run.”

Mistake #2: Lowering job qualifications too much

Almost every business in Hawaii is feeling the hiring burn right now—where are all the workers?! But ALTRES Industrial manager, Shani Silva, cautions employers from letting desperation get the best of their recruitment efforts. “Most businesses are so short-staffed, they’re loosening their job requirements just to get somebody working. But you want to be sure that the person you hire is qualified to perform the work you need done.”

Mistake #3: Taking too long to make a decision

While you shouldn’t rush hiring decisions, you also don’t want to hem and haw if you’ve found a great candidate. “It’s a jobseeker’s market and if you don’t make them an offer quickly someone else will,” says Silva. “If the person is the right fit culturally and has the right skills, don’t stall on making the decision.”

Mistake #4: Failing to screen candidates

One of the best ways to vet a candidate is to properly screen them—review their work history, check their references, and perform a background check if applicable. “Even if the candidate was referred by someone you know, you should always go through your normal vetting process,” reminds Silva. “If the candidate doesn’t have references, get personal references. If the candidate has gaps in their work history, ask why.”

Mistake #5: Overlooking the value of a staffing company

“A lot of businesses tell us they can’t afford to work with a staffing company,” says Hiyane. “But in the end, many of them spend more money because the candidates they find fallout.” When you partner with an established staffing company like ALTRES, you leverage the knowledge and expertise of our recruiters. We help our clients do the leg work of recruiting, so they can get back to doing what they do best: running their business.