Survey Finds Poor Skills-Fit Is the Most Common Reason New Hires Don't Work Out

A recent survey conducted by eFinancialCareers found that one in four financial professionals felt they were sent to interviews by recruiters for jobs that didn't match their skill set.

And today, a different survey by an independent company came to pretty much the same conclusion. The latest study conducted for Robert Half showed that one-third (36%) of 1,400 chief financial officers surveyed felt the top factor leading to a failed hire, aside from performance issues, is a poor skills match.

The Robert Half survey found that the second most selected reason (30%) was unclear performance objectives.

"Companies can't afford hiring mistakes, which are costly and can erode staff morale," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International and author of Human Resources Kit For Dummies. "Finding the right match requires time and attention, and it's something even busy managers need to make time for."

Messmer adds that working with a recruiter who specializes in a given field can help identify job candidates who have the appropriate skills. "Most recruiting firms conduct skills testing, which provides added assurance a prospective employee's skills are a match," says Messmer.