The Old Rules of Hiring Are No Longer Working
For decades, “hire slow, fire fast” has been the hiring mantra. But does it still work? Not with today’s fickle job candidates, says William Vanderbloemen.
Good morning!
Here are today’s highlights:
When it comes to raising prices, small businesses have an advantage over big businesses.
There’s good news and bad news about the impact that tariffs have had on inflation.
Alan Pentz says AI is making it easier to keep knowledge from walking out the door.
Shawn Busse offers a lesson in how to communicate unwelcome news.
THE 21 HATS PODCAST
For years, business owners have been told to follow a familiar playbook when it comes to hiring: Take your time. Be selective. Hire slow, fire fast. But more and more owners are discovering that those rules don’t fit the reality they’re facing right now. This week, William Vanderbloemen says employers can no longer indulge the luxury of hiring slow. “The shortest sermon I’ve got,” says the former pastor, “is candidates are more fickle than ever, and owners need to realize that.” Paul Downs says he’s trying to figure out what’s gone wrong with his hiring process: Is it the way he uses Indeed? The way he approaches candidates? Or the differences between hiring white-collar and blue-collar employees? Jaci Russo believes companies should always be marketing their brand as an employer and always be on the lookout for good people—even when they’re not actively hiring.
Plus, in a wide-ranging, end-of-year discussion recorded in December, the three owners talk about whether they hit their numbers in 2025, whether they use a formal budgeting process, what they expect in the year ahead, and how far out they can realistically see when they try to plan for the future.
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