In a recent conversation with the owner and manager of a construction company, I asked them what made hiring so difficult.
Their response?
“There aren’t many good people out there. And when we do get candidates, it’s hit or miss.”
They’re not alone. We hear this across industries.
And what’s most interesting is what’s hiding underneath that pain.
When you rely on resumes and interviews to judge someone’s potential, here’s what actually happens:
The best candidates…
- Often haven’t written a resume in years
- Are focused on doing the work and getting results, not selling themselves
- May come across quiet, awkward or underwhelming in interviews
- Get overlooked, even though they’re exactly the kind of person you want
The worst candidates…
- Have polished resumes and LinkedIn profiles
- Interview frequently, so they know how to impress
- Say all the right things, and know how to hide the red flags
- Can cost your business thousands before you even realise what’s gone wrong
The problem isn’t a lack of good people.
It’s that most hiring processes are designed to reward the wrong ones.
So what can you do?
Here are a few principles we recommend to business owners:
- Stop treating interviews like auditions. The loudest, most charismatic person is not always the best hire.
- Look for evidence of past production, not just experience, qualifications, or the right behaviors. What outcomes have they achieved? In what conditions? For how long?
- Use a consistent system to screen candidates before they reach you. That way, you’re only investing time in people who’ve shown actual potential, not just confidence.
- Don’t assume a great resume equals a great team member. The real gold often lies in quiet achievers who fly under the radar.
If you’ve ever hired someone who seemed perfect… only to regret it months later, you’re not alone.
But the solution isn’t hiring slower, becoming more cautious or losing faith in humanity altogether.
It’s about making some changes to your strategy for how you attract and select people for your business.
If you haven’t already, download our essential guide to Performance Hiring ebook for free.
Hope this gave you some food for thought.