One question we hear from our clients almost every day is: “Why can’t I find a good fit for my business?”
Recruiting people with skills and experience is one thing but finding someone who truly reflects your mission and values is a different challenge altogether - and our clients look to us for guidance. Here’s what we advise:
1️⃣ Start by defining what ‘good’ looks like
We often encourage our clients to ask themselves: “What does ‘good’ look like for our business?”
Being clear on your company values and what success looks and sounds like is essential. Everyone involved in the recruitment process needs to be aligned, especially when candidates go through multiple interview stages.
We recently worked with a client who progressed nine people to a fourth stage of interview but never appointed. By engaging all of the managers involved, it became clear that the final-stage interviewer was the issue and not the candidates. One person who wasn’t fully bought into the culture meant the business missed out on a multitude of culturally aligned, high-quality people. Some swift realignment of that person resulted in two hires within four weeks.
We encourage clients to consider not only how candidates might adapt, but also where their own process may need adjustment.
💡 Top tip: Make sure all stakeholders are briefed on what you’re looking for before the process starts.
2️⃣ Focus on behaviours, not just CVs
We ask our clients: how do you want candidates to behave?
Recently, we worked with a couple of key clients on improving their behavioural interviewing skills. Historically, they were a CV-first company and most candidates were screened out based on what they put on paper. By placing less emphasis on the document and more on structured interviews that identify and match desired behaviours, results improved dramatically - reducing time to hire from an average of over four months to around three weeks.
Even something as simple as changing “How” questions to “Why” questions, provides deeper insight into behavioural tendencies.
💡 Top tip: If candidates struggle to explain why they align with your values, they’re probably not the right fit.
3️⃣ Make assessments relevant
Asking candidates about coffee preferences when the role requires chasing debt is unlikely to give meaningful insight. We advise using situational tasks and role plays, which are far more effective in assessing likely behaviours in real scenarios.
💡 Top tip: To see genuine behaviours, try adding realistic challenges, like time pressure or changing parameters mid-task. This helps reflect how candidates might respond in the real business environment.
4️⃣ Avoid hiring ‘robots’
Cultural fit is important, but a team of employees who all think the same way can limit innovation and strategic planning. Diversity of thought and the ability to challenge ideas in a healthy way drives business evolution.
We’ve seen companies pursue the “perfectly branded” employee, only to struggle later with talent shortages and limited leadership capability.
💡 Top tip: Set clear minimum criteria for skills, experience, and behaviours but embrace the unique perspectives candidates bring to the table.
5️⃣ Involve your team wisely
“I’m not sure how they’ll get with the team” is a common concern. Involving the wider team in recruitment can provide valuable insight, without adding unnecessary interview stages.
Peer feedback can help mitigate “grenade” hires that disrupt team dynamics, but it’s important to observe interactions directly rather than relying solely on second-hand reports.
💡 Top tip: Watch how candidates interact with your team and take note of genuine behaviours.
Final thought
The key to successful recruitment is understanding your organisation, defining the right fit, and using the right tools to assess it. In today’s candidate-led market, identifying cultural fit, even when CVs don’t fully match, can give you a competitive edge.
At 4Leisure Recruitment, we specialise in uncovering talent pools that align with your business values and culture. That’s our bread and butter; it’s why we get up in the morning.
📩 If you’re looking for a recruitment partner who thrives on supporting business growth, get in touch today.
