Survey: Nearly All Tech Leaders In Canada Say They've Made A Bad Hire

• 38 per cent of IT decision makers report their bad hires were a poor corporate culture fit
• Skills-based and Interpersonal issues cumulatively account for more than half of hiring mistakes
• 44 per cent of technology leaders say technical skills are the hardest thing to assess in an interview  

TORONTO, Aug. 16, 2018 /CNW/ - Whether they're recruiting for a "purple squirrel," "unicorn" or "rock star," tech hiring managers say there is often a disconnect between the skills they need and the skills of the people they hire. In new research from Robert Half Technology, 93 per cent of IT hiring decision makers admitted to making a bad hire, and 38 per cent acknowledged it was due to a corporate culture issue, meaning the new hire wasn't a good fit for the company or work environment.

Poor tech hires take a toll. (CNW Group/Robert Half Technology)

Skills-based issues (30 per cent) and interpersonal problems (25 per cent) have also contributed to hiring mistakes, together accounting for over half of bad hires, according to IT leaders.

While culture fit is the main issue with poor hires, the challenges may start early in the hiring process, as 44 per cent of IT managers said adequate technical skills are the most difficult thing to evaluate during a job interview. Corporate culture followed, at 36 per cent, and 20 per cent of survey respondents said soft skills are hardest to gauge.

"The negative effects of a poor hiring decision can be felt across all areas of the business," said Deborah Bottineau, a district director for Robert Half Technology. "Not only do they cost organizations time and money, inadequate hires also impact overall productivity and morale, especially if the rest of the team is picking up the slack."

"Strong candidates are easier to identify when you have a clear understanding of your organization's values and needs," continued Bottineau. "A thorough, flexible and decisive recruitment strategy that assesses technology skills alongside team and company culture fit will help ensure new hires remain engaged and successful."

Robert Half Technology provides five tips to help hiring managers avoid costly mistakes when recruiting IT talent:

• Be clear with what you want. Recruiting the right talent starts with a solid job description. When drafting one for an existing position, re-assess the responsibilities to ensure the current requirements still match the role. If it's a new position, include the full scope of duties so there's no confusion once an employee starts.
• Test tech skills. Have strong candidates take a technical assessment to test them on key skills required for the role.
• Get your team involved. When conducting interviews, have peers, direct reports and other colleagues meet with the candidate early in the interview process. This will give you insights into the potential new hire's interpersonal skills and whether he or she will be a good fit with the team and your corporate culture.
• Be flexible. In this tight candidate market, it's challenging to find applicants who meet 100 per cent of the requirements. Determine which skills and experience are must-haves versus nice-to-haves and be willing to train promising candidates who may fall short on skills or experience but would otherwise be a great fit.
• Take a trial run. Consider bringing on a contract employee when you're hiring for a critical role. This will take some stress off your team while allowing you to evaluate the candidate's fit for a full-time position.  

About the Research

The online survey was developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by a leading independent research firm. The report is based on responses from more than 270 senior managers in Canada. All respondents were screened to have hiring authority for the information systems or information technology department of a company.

About Robert Half Technology

With more than 120 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at roberthalf.ca/technology. Visitors can also request a copy of the Robert Half Technology 2018 Salary Guide.

SOURCE Robert Half Technology

Natasha Ferraro, 647-956-5575, [email protected]