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What are some of the challenges that you are having in hiring great people?

• Posted by Brian
• Posted on May 9th, 2008
• View Comments

This question was asked recently on LinkedIn within the Answers section. It was followed up with a clarification question.

“If you are a business owner, or part of the HR department, what are some of the major [sic] challenges that you are experiencing in identifying great people?”

I am not sure why, but something clicked. I provided the following answer:

“I have hired in the past. Identifying great people is never the problem. It is whether or not you can offer them an environment to work in that will foster their greatness that is the issue. Can you pay them what they want, offer them the benefits they need, challenge them in the work they do, and promise them the people they will work with are also great?

Usually the question then becomes, if we are unable to hire great people, what kind of people do we get for the budget we have and given the environment around us? This is a very legitimate question to consider. It is also why many employees consider HR to be the scourge of any organization. They fail to answer the question, and instead try to fit great people into not-so-great places to work. By the time these great people know any better, it is too late.”

Am I wrong?

Tags: hiring, job