11/06/2026
I often hear from hiring managers: "Recruitment is expensive."
I agree, however, so is the cost of a wrong hire.
A few years ago, a company came to me after making three hires for the same role within 12 months.
Each person looked great during the interview process.
Strong CVs.
Strong references.
Strong confidence.
Yet none of them lasted.
The business had spent thousands on advertising, onboarding, training, lost productivity, management time and recruitment fees.
What they thought was a hiring problem was actually a recruitment strategy problem.
Nobody had stopped to ask why candidates were leaving.
Nobody had looked at the culture, expectations, management style or long-term fit.
When we dug deeper, the issue became obvious.
The role being advertised wasn't the role people were actually walking into.
Once we realigned expectations and focused on finding someone whose strengths matched the reality of the position, everything changed.
That hire is still with the company today.
Recruitment isn't expensive.
Getting recruitment wrong is expensive.
The best recruitment partners don't just find candidates.
They ask the honest and difficult questions that prevent costly mistakes before they happen.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned from a hiring decision?
If you would like KME’s support with your hiring needs, then reach out on: 01392 344924 or email: [email protected]
