Talent struggles mean longer hiring process

Canadian employers say hiring is taking more time than it did two years ago, according to new research.

Talent solutions firm Robert Half Canada released a survey of more than 1,500 hiring managers and 94 per cent said the hiring process has become longer.

The biggest delays occur when evaluating applications and deciding who to interview (53 per cent), conducting reference checks (48 per cent) and scheduling interviews (40 per cent).

“In the current hiring landscape, companies need to take a streamlined and strategic approach to hiring to find the right talent for business-critical needs,” said Koula Vasilopoulos, senior managing director at Robert Half Canada. “Businesses that prioritize thoroughness and clarity, without compromising efficiency, will be best positioned to hire top talent and avoid the long-term consequences of making the wrong hire.”

Finding skilled candidates remains difficult for 88 per cent of hiring managers. Nearly one in four admitted to making a hiring mistake in the past two years, which often proved costly. On average, it took four weeks to recognize the mistake, and managers reported losing more than 15 hours of productivity per week across teams due to performance issues. More than half (56 per cent) said a bad hire led to additional turnover.

The most common reasons for hiring mistakes were failing to consider soft skills and cultural fit (50 per cent), not properly assessing technical skills (49 per cent) and unclear job descriptions (33 per cent).

Image credit: Depositphotos.com