Once you have attracted people who are the right fit for your culture, you must select those who have the ability to most competently deliver on the tasks required.

One of the biggest challenges for companies is hiring the right candidates for their jobs and their culture. The reason is that most managers have not been trained in the art and science of hiring human beings. They cite the most common reasons for hiring wrong-fit employees as:

- Hiring decisions are based on personal preference

- Managers may hire people because they like the way they look, smile, dress, act, or speak

- A manager may hire someone that they perceive to be like them or like someone they know and like

- The candidate may be good at one or two aspects of the job and the hiring manager eagerly assumes or hopes that the candidate will be good at other aspects or that the candidate can learn other aspects

- The interviewer takes the candidate’s word that they have the experience and skills to do the job or the resume is used as a tool to determine the candidate’s worthiness and skills

- Hiring a moderately qualified person because the manager needs someone now

Key methods for avoiding biases and making successful hiring decisions:

1.      Identify the key “factors,” also referred to as knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), that the ideal candidate must possess to successfully perform the job. Once you have identified the KSAs, ensure that they are incorporated into the job description.

2.      Ask specific and measurable questions that will be asked of all candidates and that will clearly and behaviorally demonstrate that they have the KSAs to perform the job.