Get ’em at the Door!
We have all heard the saying: it takes just 7 seconds to make a first impression. We often apply that thinking when assessing candidates. But what about the impression your organisation makes in return? And more importantly, what decisions are being made in those first moments of the hiring process?
In today’s market, every hire matters. Each new employee has the potential to strengthen your business or quietly hold it back. That is why hiring is not just about filling roles. It is about protecting the quality of your organisation from the very start.
The reality of modern hiring
The hiring landscape has changed, but many of the methods have not.
There are more applicants than ever. Technology has made it easier to apply, and harder to differentiate. At the same time, organisations are leaner, expectations are higher, and every hire is expected to perform.
Yet despite this, many hiring processes still rely on:
- CV screening
- Unstructured interviews
- Reference checks that are often biased and unreliable
The challenge is clear. These methods were never designed to predict performance with accuracy. As a result, candidates who “look right” on paper or interview well often make it through the door, but fail to deliver over time.
The cost? Time, money, and management effort spent trying to fix a problem that started at the very beginning.
Where things go wrong
Too often, hiring decisions are made before there is real clarity on what success actually looks like in the role.
Job descriptions are vague or contradictory. For example, asking for someone who is highly detail-oriented while also expecting them to constantly multitask at speed. These mixed signals make it harder to identify the right fit and easier to justify the wrong one.
At the same time, there is pressure to move quickly. To find “the perfect candidate.” To trust instinct when the process feels uncertain.
This is where mistakes are made.
Shift the focus to the front door
The most effective hiring processes do not start with interviews. They start with clarity.
Before you meet a single candidate, you need to define:
- What does success look like in this role?
- Which traits and behaviours actually drive performance?
- What will make someone thrive in your environment?
- Are you hiring for short-term need or long-term fit?
When you get this right, everything else becomes easier. Screening becomes more accurate. Interviews become more focused. Decisions become more consistent.
Hire with intention
The strongest organisations do not leave hiring to chance or habit. They design their process to identify the right people early.
Because the truth is simple:
If the wrong people get through the door, no amount of training or management can fully solve it.
Get it right at the start.
Define what matters.
And hire for fit, with purpose.
Fit for Good.
About the Author: Nikky Van Bommel
Nikky van Bommel is the Marketing Director for Big 5 Assessments and has worked in the Psychometric Testing industry for over 10 years. Nikky is responsible for all marketing and social media for the organisation. 
