Screening, Interviewing, and Conducting Background Checks

Do it right! HR and management experts who know about small and medium-sized businesses agree that the single biggest risk in recruiting is making the wrong hire.

Duh, right?

It sounds obvious: The biggest risk in a particular endeavor is that you might do it wrong. But it's worth emphasizing that bad hires pose a bigger threat to smaller businesses than to big organizations. It’s also worth highlighting that, once you’ve gathered resumes and gotten ready to actually start interviewing people, you’ve just arrived at the most crucial part of the process.

The AllBusiness article Top 10 Hiring Mistakes makes a good read and will inoculate you against some common blunders. Note, by the way, that the top mistake listed is not doing background checks. The overhasty employer is the one who’s less likely to take time interviewing candidates, passing candidates through multiple stages of screening, and checking references. The AllBusiness.com experts agree that even when your hiring needs are pressing, it’s crucial that you take the time to set up a more rigorous interview process — it’ll pay off!