How to hire the RIGHT person for the job every time

By Hannah du Plessis

Hiring people is the biggest, most challenging decision a business owner has to make. This is even more true for entrepreneurs starting new companies. But ... how do you do it?

Most employers concentrate on skill. They read the CV, and hire the person based on their qualifications and work experience. A few companies, usually large companies that focus on sales, use psychometric testing. This focuses on the behaviour of the individual as behaviour is what creates successful sales, not qualifications.

Here's a vital fact: Using behavioural interviewing can increase your chances of hiring the right employee by nearly 60%.

In fact, extensive research supports behavioural interviewing as the most effective interviewing technique available to evaluate suitable applicants. In a nutshell:

Behaviour-based interviewing is an approach that looks at past behaviour as the best predictor of future performance.

And it makes common sense.

I’m sure you would agree that you should hire the right people for your business. Bad hiring decisions are costly. They can damage your business reputation, affect sales and cause good employees to leave. Not everyone is suited to the job - especially one dealing with people, and it is better to find out before hiring them and before they damage your business.

The problem with hiring the right people is that it takes a long time, money and resources to find the correct person for the job. You have to be prepared to invest a good chunk of time in the process — finding candidates, interviewing them, testing them, trying them out — it’s more akin to dating than anything else – it is like a dating dance or ritual that has to take place. And you can’t give that important job to someone else to do.

But once you have done the process correctly, the payoff is enormous. This is especially true for start-ups - those first few hires are going to be key ones. Those people are practically partners. You need them to stick it out through thick and thin, and be as devoted as possible. You need them to create the culture and spirit for future hires. You need them evangelizing the business. You need them taking ownership. You need them to be the driving force of success.

It’s a tall order, which is why you need to invest the time, thought and energy into hiring people properly. And you always need to focus on building a great team, not a bunch of people connected together by the fact that they work in the same office.

As a small to medium sized business owner, I am sure you are thinking that you will not be able to compete with large businesses as you might not be able to afford the psychometric testing. Luckily, that is no longer true. There is a system available for small to medium size businesses where you can have access to psychometric testing at an affordable price.

Psychometric testing will help you to:
• Avoid costly hiring mistakes
• Employ people with the right attitude
• Reduce conflict and workplace stress
• Understand what motivates your employees
• Improve team performance
• Maximize your employees’ strengths and talents
• Make sure the person is the right fit for the job

Psychometric testing will give you the following:
• A short and concise behavioural profile of the candidate
• The candidate’s value to the organization
• How effective the candidate will be on the job
• Are they a good ‘fit’ for the job
• Extra information on validation and behavioural styles

You can also make a job profile, and then select the candidate that is most suited to the job profile.

There is no doubt that finding the candidate with the right qualifications and experience, as well as the behavioural patterns that are suited to your position will give you the right person for the job, every time.

For more information on psychometric testing, please phone Hannah on

0800 492 646