How To Spot Problem Candidates

How To Spot Problem Candidates Candidates can look so good on paper that they trick you into thinking they are the perfect fit for the job. Its important that you spot the basic warning signs during the interview to prevent yourself from taking on a problem candidate. There are lots of factors that you need to take into consideration; Will they get on with the rest of your team? Are they reliable? Are they capable? Most importantly, Are they telling the truth?  Even if they arent lying, there may be a couple of things that they say or do that may put you off. Here are 5 things worth looking out for before they become problem employees:   Money Orientated Although candidates are entitled to ask about salary, this shouldnt be their only concern. You can spot a candidate who is only interested in the money Some companies benefits play a huge part in the hiring process and its perfectly normal for the candidate to be inquisitive about these perks but there are many downfalls to this approach. You need to make sure that their passion lies in the role and not just what you can give to them. Candidates come across as less of a risk if they choose the  job based on what it entails, it shows they will get great job satisfaction from this role and not just salary satisfaction. Bad Mouthing During the interview, you may ask questions about the candidates previous roles. Strangely, some candidates  see this an opportunity to bad-mouth their ex-employers. Alarm bells should be ringing If they blame the termination of their previous job on someone else, this signifies how easy it is for them to blame others and this may cause issues in the future. Candidates should refer to previous jobs and employers in a professional and polite manner,  avoid those who cannot adopt professionalism. Self-Criticism You may notice from some of the answers that you receive that your candidate struggles to criticise themselves. This immediately signifies a problem candidate. When candidates are able to criticise themselves, it shows that they are clearly aware of their own strengths and weaknesses and Candidates who fail to recognise their own weaknesses are often quicker to push the blame on to others to overcome their imperfections. Problems may arise in the future and their inability to accept criticism may cause further issues  avoid! Lack of Knowledge Now, this one seems pretty obvious but it is a definite red alert. They may be an ideal candidate in terms of skills and experience but if they know nothing about your company or the role, its probably best to avoid. All candidates should do their research before the interview, not only to display their interest but to make sure that the company and the role are right for them. They may not be familiar with the size of your company, what services you provide or what the role consists of. Me, Myself I You can often spot when someone isnt a team player Failure to work as a team can result in bad tension within the office and cause unnecessary problems and distractions from work itself. You want to hire an employee who wants to help others and someone who looks to others for inspiration, not the mirror. If your office is a place that encourages teamwork and collaboration, its probably best to  avoid  this employee. Now, after all that talk about what to avoid, its probably best to give you some advice on How To Hire Superstar Candidates. Good luck in your hiring process and if you need any more advice just have a look at our blog!