In this post we will explore advice and quotes from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. You may be thinking what does this novel have to do with background screening? The answer is a lot, follow along as I take six quotes from this classic and apply them to the modern world of background screening.
Douglas Adams may have not known it at the time but many of his lines can be interpreted to teach valuable lessons especially in the HR world. In the quest to answer the ultimate question he gave HR professionals some of the best advice out there:
1. “See first, think later, then test. But always see first. Otherwise you will only see what you were expecting. Most scientists forget that.”
This first quote is about how scientists approach experiments but the saying holds true for hiring managers performing interviews as well. During the interview process a first impression is a vital part of the interview. If you love a resume and go into an interview with the mentality that you are going to hire the person no matter what, you may miss a warning sign and end up with a bad hire. Take off the blinders and take a good look at candidates before making your final decision. See – interview the candidate, Think – look at everything and make an informed decision and then Test – make an offer and run a background check for the final hiring decision.
2. “Anything that thinks logically can be fooled by something else that thinks at least as logically as it does.”
Don’t underestimate candidates, check references. This quote is about as straightforward as they come. The people you are interviewing most likely are intelligent… add desperation and you have a dangerous combination. Don’t be fooled – always err on the side caution.
3. “A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.”
This quote is similar to the quote above but slightly different in it can be related to selecting a candidate as well as designing a policy. Just because someone is not book smart does not mean they are not street smart. Common sense can often outwit the most intelligent people. Be sure to constantly update your hiring, background screening and workplace policies to avoid an unnecessary legal situation.
4. “They were a double pair of Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses, which had been specifically designed to help people develop a relaxed attitude to danger. At the first hint of trouble they turn totally black and thus prevent you from seeing anything that might alarm you.”
This quote is about sunglasses which literally blackout danger. This can be applied to the employer – employee relationship. In last week’s post we covered employee concerns and workplace problems. It was discussed that many employers often have a pair of “Joo Janta 200” Sunglasses on. Although many employers would rather pretend that all is fine and well, that is probably not the case. Avoid fraud, profit loss, theft and more by removing the glasses and facing the situations which alarm you.
5. “Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws.”
Moving on from interviews to work environment, this quote can be used as advice for workplace culture and policies. In hiring, screening and firing bad news has its way of making it to people before most employers hoped it would. In any situation it is best for employers to be transparent. Without properly informing candidates/ workers of bad news, companies could be facing costly consequences.
6. “It’s an important and popular fact that things are not always what they seem.”
This can apply to any part of employment but I am going to focus on background screening. Screening applicants is necessary in today’s job market, it is nice to want to trust people but unfortunately the risk is too high. Many argue that they can avoid cost and perform their own online checks but this is not the case. Social media, resumes and even interview questions can be manipulated, padded and faked to success. The saying “fake it to make it” is all too true in today’s society.
It is important to remember that things may not be what they seem, always screen applicants, check references and don’t just hire anyone. Here is a guide to help you navigate through applicant screening so you may make well informed and smarter hiring decisions this year.
Many people find advice and inspiration when not looking for it such as in a book, movie or just everyday living. Have some favorite advice? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below. I will be back Thursday, but for now – So long, and thanks for all the fish.