Recruiting—Your Monthly Tip for Success

How to Avoid the Two-Timing New Hire

Has anyone ever accepted your job offer, only to change their mind the night before the start date? The "two-timing" new hire is becoming more common, and increased competition for construction talent is partly to blame. Recent research shows 75% of active candidates are interviewing, simultaneously, with at least 3 companies.  

As a result, top candidates are receiving multiple offers. And if yours happens to be a close second to the two-timer’s "dream job," they’ll accept, to hedge their bets, continue interviewing with their top choice employer, and dump you when they receive the offer they want!

Avoid the two-timer by using these strategies in your hiring process.

1. Move quickly on top candidates. Time kills all deals, and top candidates are no exception. If your opportunity happens to be their top choice and you drag your feet, they’ll lose interest, assume you’re slow at everything, and get cozy with another potential employer.
2. Ask about other interviews early and often. During your first contact with the candidate, and every time you speak, ask about timing, status and interest level, for all positions for which they’re interviewing.
3. Question their motives for making change. With active job seekers, it’s vital to understand, up front, what they hope to achieve by making a move. If more money is the only motive, they’ll dump you for the highest bidder, so move on!
4. Extend verbal offers, before sending letters! Once you’ve gained a solid, verbal commitment, then send the letter with an expiration date. If you send an offer letter with no communication or feedback, you’ve giving "Tommy Two-timer" the opportunity to go to another employer with leverage for a higher offer. He may also use it to get a counter offer from his current employer! 
5. Avoid "long notices." One month or longer notices are risky. In rare cases where a candidate is forced to provide a 3 week or longer notice, be sure you’re meeting or talking weekly.
   

Next month..."Making Offers – Navigating the Minefield."

Kathy Cole has helped construction companies match extraordinary job opportunities to exceptional talent for more than 20 years. She founded DK Cole Executive Search in 2006. She is past president of the Chicago Chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association.