Blog

By Bob Hayward, Managing Director, Be More Effective Ltd and MLR

Every morning, thousands of UK businesses make recruitment decisions that could cost them dearly.

They scan CVs, conduct interviews, and rely on "gut feelings" to select their next team member. Yet the statistics paint a sobering picture: 46% of newly hired employees fail within 18 months, and the financial impact is staggering.

According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the average cost per hire in the UK is £6,125. But when that hire goes wrong, the true cost escalates dramatically. The US Department of Labor estimates that a bad hire can cost up to 30% of the employee's first-year earnings

The Traditional Recruitment Trap

Most recruitment processes follow a predictable pattern: post a job advert, sift through CVs, conduct interviews, and make a decision based largely on how candidates present themselves in a 60-minute conversation. It's a system that's fundamentally flawed because it focuses on what people say they can do, rather than understanding how they naturally operate.

This approach explains why 89% of hiring failures are due to poor culture fit rather than lack of skills. Traditional interviews excel at identifying technical competence but fail spectacularly at predicting whether someone will thrive in your specific environment or work effectively with your existing team.

The Science of Understanding People

Here enters The Birkman Method - a scientifically validated assessment that reveals the hidden drivers of human behaviour. Unlike personality tests that simply categorise people, Birkman uncovers three critical dimensions:

• Usual Behaviour: How people naturally act when things are going well
• Underlying Needs: The environmental conditions required for peak performance
• Stress Behaviour: How people react when their needs aren't met

This isn't just theoretical - it's practical intelligence that transforms recruitment decisions. When we understand a candidate's Birkman profile, we can predict not just whether they can do the job, but whether they'll excel in your specific culture and work harmoniously with your existing team.

Real-World Impact

Consider this scenario: You're hiring a sales manager. Traditional recruitment might focus on their track record, communication skills, and interview performance. The Birkman Method reveals something far more valuable - whether their natural motivational drivers align with your sales environment.

If your culture is collaborative and supportive, but the candidate needs competitive pressure to perform at their best, you've identified a potential mismatch before it becomes a costly mistake. Conversely, if their needs align perfectly with your environment, you can predict not just success, but exceptional performance.

At Be More Effective, we've seen this science in action. Our clients using Birkman-based selection report a 50% reduction in poor hires, with an 80% placement success rate when the assessment is used for both candidate and manager.

The Manager's Secret Weapon

But here's where Birkman truly shines - it doesn't just help you select the right person; it provides a roadmap for managing them effectively. The assessment reveals exactly what environmental conditions each individual needs to perform at their peak.

Some people need clear structure and detailed instructions; others require autonomy and creative freedom. Some thrive on frequent feedback; others prefer to be left alone to deliver results. Traditional recruitment gives you none of this insight. Birkman provides it all.

Beyond the Interview Room

The depth of insight extends to team dynamics. When you understand the Birkman profiles of your existing team, you can predict, with a high degree of accuracy, how a new hire will integrate. Will they complement existing strengths? Might they clash with certain personalities? How can you structure their onboarding to maximise success?

This scientific approach transforms recruitment from a gamble into a strategic advantage. You're not just filling a vacancy - you're architecting team success.

The Evidence is Clear

Research consistently demonstrates that structured, science-based selection methods outperform traditional interviews. The Birkman Method, with over 70 years of validation and millions of profiles in its database, represents the gold standard in understanding workplace behaviour.

When you consider that the average cost of recruitment failure can reach hundreds of thousands of pounds, the investment in proper assessment becomes not just sensible - it becomes essential.

A Call to Action

The question isn't whether you can afford to use scientific assessment in your recruitment - it's whether you can afford not to!

Every bad hire costs your business in ways that extend far beyond the immediate financial impact: lost productivity, damaged team morale, missed opportunities, and the hidden cost of starting the entire process again.

The Birkman Method offers a different path - one where recruitment decisions are based on scientific insight rather than subjective impression. Where you understand not just what someone can do, but how they'll do it in your specific environment.

For trainers, facilitators, and HR managers ready to transform their recruitment outcomes, the science is waiting. The only question is: will you continue to rely on hope and intuition, or will you embrace the power of understanding what truly drives human performance?

To discover how The Birkman Method can revolutionise your recruitment process, visit our Birkman Recruitment Screening page or contact us for more information.