If you are struggling to attract enough applicants for open roles or need to expand your workforce rapidly, you might be thinking about relaxing your hiring requirements.
While this approach may help to broaden your applicant pool and possibly reduce the time it takes to fill a position, it could also have unforeseen and unpleasant consequences for your business.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the typical ways companies loosen their hiring requirements, examine the potential risks involved, and suggest some alternatives to consider instead.
Reducing educational requirements
Before you relax the rules on your training and education requirements, be aware of the occupational licensing laws that require various levels of training, testing and education for certain occupations in your state.
Failure to comply with these regulations is not only a severe violation, but it can also endanger your employees and customers. However, by partnering with a dependable staffing and recruiting company, you can navigate these regulations and minimize potential risks related to safety and compliance.
They can ensure that all workers meet the necessary training and certification standards before being hired.
Shortening the hiring process
If you’re in a situation where you need to hire staff quickly or if you’re worried about losing potential candidates to competitors, you may be tempted to cut corners in your hiring process. However, it’s important to keep in mind that any steps you take to speed up the process must still comply with local and state hiring laws.
If you plan to change the way you conduct interviews, be cautious as this can be a risky move. It’s crucial that you ask every candidate the same questions and evaluate them using the same criteria. To ensure that you’re following the proper procedures and staying compliant with hiring laws, it’s advisable to consult with a certified third-party expert in compliant hiring practices.
Loosening requirements around experience
Some job positions demand a high level of technical expertise, and experience can be a crucial factor. Reducing the required years of experience may not be the best decision for your business, as it could impact the quality of your products or services.
If you face difficulty in finding skilled workers, consider partnering with a recruiting partner that specializes in your industry. Such staffing partners have access to a pool of talented workers with unique skills and expertise that your business requires.
Stopping background checks
It is important to consider the consequences before deciding to eliminate background checks in order to reduce the time it takes to hire employees. Failure to conduct proper background screenings can lead to hiring mistakes, create unsafe conditions for current employees and customers, and increase the risk of fraud, theft, and hacking for your customers.
In summary, skipping background checks can have significant costs for your business in a variety of ways.
Stopping drug testing
Drug screening is an important safety measure, particularly for certain job roles. Similar to background checks, it helps ensure that employees are suitable for their position. The legalization of marijuana in many states has resulted in new and varied regulations regarding employment drug testing. Therefore, it’s essential to stay informed about the rules around drug testing.
To navigate this process and the one mentioned above, it’s advisable to seek assistance from a reputable screening services provider with a proven track record of expertise in compliance laws associated with background checks and drug screening. They can thoroughly assess potential candidates on your behalf, saving you time and providing confidence in your hiring decision.
Bottom line
Loosening your hiring requirements can help you bring in more applicants faster, but it won’t necessarily lead to a better quality of hire. Whether you need to staff up quickly, aren’t finding the candidates you need or don’t have the bandwidth to dedicate to recruiting, a good staffing partner can help you find the candidates you need, when you need them.
The right partner will work to understand your workforce needs and then do the heavy lifting to source and screen candidates quickly – all while ensuring you stay compliant.
