Hiring the right candidate is always a balancing act. On one hand, businesses need to fill roles quickly to keep operations running smoothly. On the other, making the wrong hire can lead to costly mistakes and turnover. So, how do you decide when to hire fast and when to hold out for the perfect fit?
When to Hire Fast
Sometimes, SPEED is the priority. Here are a few scenarios when hiring quickly benefits Staffers clients:
- Critical Operational Gaps
If a key employee leaves and their absence disrupts workflow—think accounting deadlines, customer service roles, or front-office support—hiring fast is essential. The longer the role remains unfilled, the more it affects productivity. This is a BIG problem for clients. - Seasonal or Project-Based Roles
For short-term needs, such as tax season support for accounting firms or temporary legal assistants during a major case, speed is more important than long-term fit. - Competitive Job Markets
In industries where demand outweighs supply (like industrial and medical office roles), waiting too long can mean losing top candidates to competitors. If someone meets 80% of your criteria, it may be wise to act quickly. Candidates tend to go FAST in these situations, Staffers sees this in industrial roles. - Promotable Internal Candidates
When an internal employee is ready for a step up, it’s often best to move fast. Delaying could cause frustration or even prompt them to seek opportunities elsewhere. Associate or mid-level employees get restless if they feel that there is no upward mobility within their company.
When to Hold Out for the Right Fit
Not every position should be filled in a hurry. Here’s when patience pays off:
- Leadership and Strategic Roles
Positions in management, HR, or marketing require individuals who align with company culture and long-term goals. Hiring the wrong leader can have lasting consequences, so it’s worth waiting for the right person. Staffers recruiters find that individuals up for these roles tend to have multiple rounds of interviewing and meeting various members of the team. - Highly Specialized Skill Sets
Some roles—like legal specialists or senior accounting professionals—require niche expertise. Rushing to hire someone without the right skills can lead to mistakes that are costly to fix. This is also true for innovative industries- we recently found this when recruiting for an analytical chemist. - Toxic Work Environment Risks
A bad cultural fit can cause more damage than leaving the role open a little longer. If a candidate has the right skills but doesn’t align with your company values, it’s better to keep searching. A candidate may look fantastic on paper, but not mesh well with the current team. We encourage our clients to have candidates meet with the other employees and get a “feel” for what a work day would be like being a new hire. - Company Growth and Change
If your business is evolving, it might be wise to wait. Hiring too quickly for a role that could shift in six months could lead to early turnover.
Finding the Right Balance
Hiring isn’t about choosing speed over fit or vice versa—it’s about knowing when to prioritize each. Here are a few strategies to help you make the right call:
- Work with a staffing firm like Staffers to maintain a pipeline of pre-vetted candidates, so you don’t have to start from scratch when a role opens up. Our Staffers team wants to get to know YOU and what YOU need.
- Use temporary hires to fill urgent needs while you search for the ideal direct hire candidate. This is a huge part of our business and a great option while we search for your perfect fit. Temporary hires also may turn into the winning role!
- Set clear hiring priorities to ensure everyone involved understands when speed is critical and when patience is key. This benefits both Staffers and our clients. We set clear expectations and lines of communication.
At the end of the day, the best hiring strategy is one that aligns with your company’s goals while keeping operations running smoothly. Need help balancing speed and fit in your hiring process? Contact Staffers today—we specialize in finding top talent for top businesses in the Greater Jackson area!
