Is the New Hire a Good Fit?

Try as you may to hire the best employees, one cannot be certain about a new hire until the individual is actually on the job. As you have likely experienced � some new hires are bad fits. Some people exaggerate their experience and qualifications, and some realize they just don't like the job or the organization.

Hiring mistakes happen. Spotting these mistakes early can save time and money. One red flag to be aware of is whether the new employee asks questions.

The absence of questions from a new hire may signal that the person:

� does not understand the job
� doesn't know who to ask
� may not care if the task is done well
� fears asking a question that some might perceive as "dumb"
� doesn't communicate well
� prefers to solve problems alone
� thinks his or her way is better than the established procedure

New hires should be encouraged to ask lots of questions during their initial period of employment. Supervisors should expect, welcome, and encourage regular questions.

Asking questions probably means that the new hire:

� is thinking about the job or specific task
� wants to do things right
� respects the supervisor's knowledge
� is naturally inquisitive
� wants to increase confidence in his or her judgment

SESCO Management Consultants is available to assist with your human resource issues. You may contact us by phone at 423-764-4127 or by email at sesco@sescomgt.com.