Hiring someone who doesn’t work out is frustrating.
But what many businesses fail to realise is just how expensive it really is.
The cost of a bad hire isn’t just the salary.
It’s time lost, morale hit, opportunity missed, and brand reputation damaged.
In this post, we break down the true cost of getting it wrong—and how to build a better process to stop the cycle.
🧮 The Hard Costs of a Bad Hire
Let’s say you hire someone on £50,000.
If they leave (or you let them go) within 6 months, you’ve likely spent:
- £25,000+ in salary
- £3,000–£5,000 in onboarding, tech setup, tools
- £10,000+ in lost productivity
- £5,000+ in manager time/interviews/admin
➡️ That’s £40,000–£50,000 gone—and you’re back to square one.
Now factor in:
- Team morale dropping
- Customer relationships impacted
- Projects delayed or derailed
- More pressure on your best people to “pick up the slack”
The knock-on effects are enormous.
🧠 The Soft Costs (That Hurt Just as Much)
- Reputational Damage:
If the person was client-facing, their poor performance reflects on you. - Candidate Market Impact:
Word spreads. If your process is known for mis-hires or churn, good candidates will think twice. - Internal Doubt:
Hiring managers start second-guessing decisions. Slows future recruitment.
🚫 Why Do Mis-Hires Happen?
The most common culprits:
- Rushed decisions due to urgency
- Hiring the best CV—not the best fit
- Vague role expectations from day one
- No structured screening or scoring
- Over-promising the job in the interview process
✅ How to Avoid Bad Hires (Without Hiring a Full Recruitment Team)
- Clarify the Role Upfront
Don’t start hiring until everyone’s aligned on what success looks like. - Use a Standardised Scorecard
Objectivity reduces bias—and regret. - Screen for Motivation, Not Just Experience
Ask: “Why this role, why now, why us?” - Set Clear Expectations Early
Hybrid means hybrid. £40k means £40k. Don’t fudge the facts to “get them in.” - Don’t Ignore Red Flags
If they ghost once, if they’re evasive on salary, if they bad-mouth previous employers—trust your gut.
🚀 Want to Reduce Mis-Hires and Wasted Time?
Our Filtering + Engagement Service helps companies:
- Attract and qualify serious, relevant candidates
- Screen for values, motivations, and role fit
- Reduce ghosting, churn, and hiring regret
- Do it without the cost of a full agency fee
📩 DM us or click here to see how we can help you hire smarter—and avoid the costly mistakes.
