Hiring is a process of bringing in new employees to fulfill specific job roles and support the growth and success of the company. The talent acquisition process is often faced with the dilemma of hiring fast or hiring right. This is to meet immediate demands or take the time to carefully vet and choose the right candidate. It also evokes a debate between hiring fast and hiring right, as each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The purpose of this article is to explore the debate between these two approaches and to determine what matters the most in the talent management process. The article will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each approach and provide a solution for balancing the two to achieve the best outcome.

So, ready? Let’s go.

Hiring fast: When is it important?

Hiring fast refers to the practice of filling job openings quickly. It often focuses on filling the position as soon as possible, rather than taking the time to thoroughly evaluate and screen candidates. This approach prioritizes speed over anything else. Here are some of the use cases of this approach:

Meeting business demands quickly

Hiring fast can help businesses to meet their hiring demands quickly. This is especially important when the company is facing a critical shortage of manpower. Or in cases when there are urgent projects that need to be completed. It allows companies to fill these positions quickly and get back to business soon.

Filling critical positions

Filling critical positions with the right person is a challenge. This refers to positions that are vital to the operations of the company and require someone to be in place immediately. By hiring fast, companies can ensure these vacant positions are filled promptly. It helps them prevent delays and ensure the continuity of operations.

Taking advantage of job market opportunities

Hiring fast can be beneficial for companies to take advantage of job market opportunities. For example, if a talented candidate suddenly becomes available, hiring fast can help companies. This is a way organizations can secure candidates before they are snapped up by competitors.

Preventing delays in projects and processes

Delays in projects and processes can have a negative impact on the company’s reputation and bottom line. By hiring fast, companies can prevent these delays by quickly filling critical positions. Thereby ensuring that projects and processes continue smoothly.

Boosting morale and productivity

Last but not the least, hiring fast can boost morale and productivity in the workplace. When employees see that the company is making a serious effort to meet their needs and support their growth, they are more likely to feel motivated and engaged, leading to higher productivity.

The risks of hiring fast: Why you shouldn’t go for it?

Here are some shortcomings associated with this approach:

Poor job fit

Finding the right candidate is a painstaking task. One of the main risks of hiring fast is the potential for poor job fit. With rushed hiring, companies may not have the time to fully evaluate a candidate’s skills, experience, and personality. This may result in selecting someone who is not a good fit for the role or the company culture.

Low quality of work

Hiring fast can also lead to low-quality of work. How? It’s obvious as candidates who are not a good fit for the role may not perform tasks as expected. This can have a negative impact on the company’s reputation and bottom line.

High turnover and decreased morale

Hiring fast may cause high employee turnover. When employees are not a good fit for the role or the company culture, they are more likely to leave. It does not only cause costs in terms of time but also resources. It can also lead to decreased morale in the workplace, as employees may feel frustrated and demotivated. They may feel forced to work with someone who is not a good fit for the role.

Lack of diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace flip the company’s growth for good. Hiring fast can also lead to a lack of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. When the recruitment process is rushed, companies may not have the time to consider candidates from diverse backgrounds. They may instead opt for the quickest or most convenient option.

Short-term thinking

Lastly, hiring fast can lead to short-term thinking and a lack of consideration for the long-term implications of the hiring decision. When companies are focused on filling a role quickly, they may not take the time to consider the long-term impact of the decision and may end up hiring someone who is not a good fit for the role or the company.

Hiring right: Why it matters?

Hiring right refers to the process of carefully evaluating and screening job candidates. This is to ensure that the hiring team finds the best fit for the role and the company culture. Hiring the right person approach prioritizes quality hire and fit over speed. It becomes important because of its long-term outcomes for both the employee and the company. Here are a few reasons why you should hire the right person:

Finding the best fit for the company culture

One of the main advantages of hiring right is the ability to find the best fit for the company culture. This is important because a candidate who fits in well with the company culture is more likely to be satisfied in their role, stay with the company for a longer period of time, and contribute to the overall success of the business.

Long-term success and stability

Hiring right also leads to long-term success and stability for the company. By taking the time to carefully vet and choose the right candidate, companies can ensure that they are bringing in someone who has the skills, experience, and personality to succeed in the role and contribute to the company’s growth over the long term.

Improved quality of work

Hiring the right candidate also leads to improved quality of work. When employees are well-suited to their roles and the company culture, they give off the best employee performance, leading to better results for the company.

Better employee satisfaction and retention

Hiring right also results in better employee satisfaction and retention. When employees are happy in their roles and feel that they are a good fit for the company, they are less likely to leave and more likely to stay with the company for a longer period of time. 

Lower cost in terms of time and resources

Finally, hiring right can also lower costs in terms of time and resources. By taking the time to carefully vet and choose the right candidate, companies can avoid the high costs associated with turnover and the need to repeatedly recruit and train new employees. Right-fit candidates also result in a better workplace with the power of ultimate employee engagement. 

The risks of hiring right: Why you should be careful while hiring right?

Besides being the best hiring approach, this approach also has some risks attached. Here are they:

Time-consuming process

One of the main risks is that it can be a time-consuming process. Carefully evaluating candidates, conducting multiple interviews, and thoroughly checking references can take a significant amount of time and resources.

Missed business opportunities

Hiring right can also lead to missed business opportunities. When the hiring process takes a long time, companies may miss out on potential candidates who competitors quickly snap up.

Overthinking and analysis paralysis

Overthinking and analysis paralysis are also risks associated with hiring right. When companies are focused on finding the perfect candidate, they may end up overthinking the decision and losing sight of the bigger picture.

Unavailability of the ideal candidate

Hiring right is also dependent on the availability of the ideal candidate. Sometimes, the perfect candidate may not be available or may not be interested in the role, which can result in a lengthy search process and missed opportunities.

Resistance to change

Finally, hiring right can result in resistance to change in the workplace. When employees are used to a certain way of doing things and are comfortable with the status quo, bringing in someone new who may challenge their ideas and processes can result in resistance and pushback.

So, what matters the most? 

Now you understand pretty well that hiring fast and right have advantages and risks. On one hand, hiring fast can help companies fill roles quickly and meet immediate needs. While hiring right can result in a better long-term fit and improved quality of work. But, hiring fast can lead to poor job fit and decreased morale, while hiring right can be a lengthy and time-consuming process. So, it’s important to go for a solution that keeps both factors in consideration. Here the challenge for companies is to find a way to balance the need for speed with the need for quality and fit. This is where a digital hiring company like Metahire comes in.

Balance hiring speed & quality with Metahire!

Metahire helps companies achieve the best of both worlds by streamlining the recruitment process. It also reduces the time it takes to find the right candidate while ensuring that they are a good fit for the role and the company culture.

With Metahire, companies can use data-driven insights and artificial intelligence to identify the best candidates for the job. The process involves the use of automated recruitment strategies. For example, job postings, pre-employment screening, interview scheduling, virtual interviews, and easy candidate follow-up. This not only speeds up the recruitment process but also helps companies make more informed decisions better than their manual recruitment strategies. The result reduces the risks associated with both the approaches.

So why not try Metahire today! Start for free and see the results for yourself?