We have all seen resumes of people with multiple advanced degrees and diplomas. Education alone is not an indicator of future success. It only demonstrates that the candidate is capable of getting an education.- Avoid: Choosing between candidates simply because one has more education. It doesn’t mean the highly educated candidate is better than all the other candidates that don’t have all those impressive letters beside their name.
- A better approach: Get the candidates to talk about examples of what they have accomplished and how they have interacted with customers, peers and done the kind of tasks you need for the position.
- A better approach: Give the candidate scenarios of situations likely to arise in your business and ask them to give examples of how they personally would respond.
Mistake #3: Being dazzled by the “halo effect” Sometimes we just click with a candidate and build instant rapport during an interview. Be very careful to differentiate between someone you ”like” or “admire” versus someone who is a good fit for the role. - Avoid: Making your hiring decision based on gut feel. That halo may make you forget to focus on some basic competency areas.
- A better approach: Use a consistent template to rate all of the required skills for the position so as not to be swayed by your personal biases.
Mistake #4: Fall for someone with the gift of the gab Especially in the hospitality business, keep in mind these candidates are experts in building rapport and selling. In the case of servers and bartenders, their livelihood depends on it. - Avoid: Getting so enamored by a great pitch that you think the person is a star before doing your due diligence.
- A better approach: Ask for examples and evidence examples of their success. Look for proof such as awards or customer letters, and explore their ability to think on their feet through scenarios.
- A better approach: Look for humility and the ability to learn from mistakes. Ask the candidate to describe a mistake they have made or a complaint they have received. A truly great candidate will always be confident enough to share a lesson they have learned or a mistake they made. A big talker will always resist showing character flaws.
Mistake #5: Failure to do a background check This seems so 1980, but references are critically important. I have seen so many managers get too busy, or need to move too fast to check references. Past performance almost always repeats itself, good and bad. - Avoid: Skipping reference checks. Furthermore, know who the references are – roommates and friends do not count!!
- A better approach: Always check references and wherever possible full background checks are even better. Criminal record checks and education verification often reveal surprises references alone would not catch.
We all know the great candidates get hired quickly, but having a disciplined hiring process in place will not slow you down. It will help save you time, money and grey hair down the road. Don’t be dazzled by snake charmers. Sometimes you have to dig a little deeper to reveal the real gems. See also:
About the author: Debby Carreau is the CEO and Founder of Inspired HR and owner of six A&W restaurants in Alberta. She can be reached at [email protected]. | 
