Barbara McKiernan, Managing Director of VANRATH: How to avoid a bad hire

Words by Barbara McKiernan, Managing Director of VANRATH

Hiring the wrong person isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a financial and operational nightmare. A bad hire can drain productivity, tank team morale, and cost your company thousands. And yet, businesses still make hiring mistakes all the time. Why? Because hiring isn’t just about filling a vacancy; it’s about making sure the right person is in the right role.

 The True Cost of a Bad Hire

 Let’s talk numbers. Research suggests that a bad hire can cost a company up to 30% of that employee’s annual salary. BUT, when you factor in recruitment fees, training costs, lost productivity, and the potential impact on clients, the real cost is often much higher.

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Think about it like this:

• Recruitment Costs: You’ve paid to advertise the role, sift through CVs, and conduct interviews.
• Training Costs: You’ve spent time onboarding them, only to realise they’re not the right fit.
• Lost Productivity: A disengaged or underperforming employee slows down the whole team.
• Damaged Reputation: If they’re client-facing, their mistakes can impact customer trust.
• Morale Killer: A toxic or ineffective hire can bring down the energy and motivation of the entire department.

Now imagine repeating this cycle when you inevitably have to replace them!

Why Bad Hires Happen

Hiring mistakes happen for a few key reasons:

1. Rushing the Process – Desperation leads to poor decisions. Hiring someone quickly isn’t the same as hiring someone properly.
2. Ignoring Cultural Fit – A candidate can look great on paper but be an absolute disaster in the workplace.
3. Falling for the “Interview Persona” – Some candidates ace interviews but flop when the real work begins.
4. Skipping Reference Checks – If you’re not doing proper due diligence, you’re playing recruitment roulette.
5. Lack of Clear Role Expectations – If you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, how can you expect to find it?

How to Avoid a Hiring Disaster

Now for the good news: Bad hires can be avoided with the right approach.

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1. Be Brutally Honest About What You Need

Forget generic job descriptions. Be specific about the skills, experience, and personality traits that will actually lead to success in the role. If you’re hiring for a high-pressure role, don’t sugar-coat it—candidates should know what they’re getting into.

2. Improve Your Interview Process

Behavioural interviews, competency tests, and practical tasks can help separate real talent from those who are just good at talking. Ask tough questions, dig into past experiences, and don’t be afraid to challenge candidates.

3. Don’t Skip Reference Checks

A CV and a polished LinkedIn profile only tell you so much. Speak to former employers to get the real story. If a candidate is hesitant to provide references, that’s a massive red flag.

4. Work With VANRATH

Why take unnecessary risks? VANRATH specialise in finding candidates that are the right fit, not just the first available option. We do the legwork—screening, vetting, and matching candidates—so you don’t end up with an expensive hiring mistake.

5. Have a Solid Onboarding Process

Even the best hires need support. A structured onboarding programme can help new employees integrate smoothly and start contributing faster. It’s also a great way to identify early warning signs before it’s too late.

A bad hire doesn’t just cost money—it costs time, energy, and trust within your organisation. The best way to avoid one? Be strategic, thorough, and proactive in your hiring process. And if you need expert help, VANRATH is here to make sure your next hire is the right one — because hiring mistakes are expensive, and you’ve got better things to spend your budget on.

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