Ever made a bad hire? New research shows you're not alone—and you don't have to repeat the experience.

A recent survey by the Recruiting Roundtable reveals a startling statistic: Half of the respondent organizations or their new hires regret their hiring decisions, which has lead to reduced performance and increased turnover. The study, which includes data from more than 8,500 hiring managers and 19,000 of their most recent hires, purports to be the first of its kind to quantify the negative impacts of poor hiring decisions.

Why the woefully low score? The study suggests that the selection process is regularly undermined by three common, basic mistakes on the part of recruiters or hiring managers: asking candidates to describe themselves rather than demonstrate their abilities; failing to adopt a consistent, evidence-based decision process; and not providing candidates with enough real-life information about the job itself.

However, there is hope for beleaguered recruiters and job seekers alike. The study offers 10 key strategies to ensure that a candidate and her position are a perfect fit. Chief among them? Move beyond the traditional interview process by including an experiential component of the hiring process so that recruiters get to see how a candidate works, while the candidate gains a clear sense of what her responsibilities would actually entail.

For more information about the Recruiting Roundtable and its research, click here.

For more information Shaker Consulting Group.

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